Norris and Piastri celebrating McLaren's constructors' title in Singapore - Photo: Race Pictures

Steiner reiterates advice to McLaren: 'Support Piastri!'

07:49, 09 Oct

Updated: 09:54, 09 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Guenther Steiner is adamant that McLaren should put all their focus on Oscar Piastri to secure this year’s Drivers’ Championship.

"He has got more points than Lando. I’m sorry, it’s nothing against Lando."

- Guenther Steiner on The Red Flags Podcast

The former team principal is clear about what McLaren should do moving forward this season, he explained on The Red Flags Podcast.

"What they put on in Singapore, it was not a championship show," Steiner began after the Woking-based team secured its second constructors' title in a row last Sunday.

"Either you let them race, or if you are getting worried [about] losing the championship, you have to make the call," he explained, referring to the battle for the Drivers’ Championship between Piastri and Lando Norris.

norris-piastri-collision-mclaren-singapore-gp-f1

Norris made contact with Piastri at the start of the Singapore GP - Photo: Race Pictures

He continued with explaining that should the team favour one driver, it should be Piastri.

"He has got more points than Lando. I’m sorry, it’s nothing against Lando.

"Oscar put himself first in the first two thirds of the races in a better position. Now you go and win the world championship.

"Because if they lose the drivers’ world championship, I wouldn’t be happy. And then you have got two unhappy drivers. At least if you favour one, you’ve got only one unhappy driver."

The one advice Steiner would tell Zak Brown

Steiner was then asked what advice he would give to the McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, over the phone. The former Haas team boss was clear: McLaren should support Piastri over the remaining rounds of the 2025 campaign, as rivals close the gap..

He added: "They had to race up to now. Now you need to support him. Last year they didn't win it, the drivers.

"But this year, if they continue like this — like Singapore — it’s not a done deal.

"I still think they will win it because at some stage they will do what I just said. Because otherwise the drivers will fall out between them. That happens as well," he explained.

With six Grands Prix and three Sprints to go in the 2025 campaign, Piastri leads Norris by 22 points in the standings. Max Verstappen is sitting in third place of the standings, trailing the Australian by 63 points.

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