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George Russell says McLaren should not have implemented team orders and should not have chosen to interfere in this Sunday’s F1 title-decider in Abu Dhabi.
Lando Norris of McLaren leads the world championship He is 12 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri is four points behind in third.
with norris only need one platform In order to secure his first title, it has been suggested that McLaren could instruct Piastri to allow Norris to take the lead if needed in Sunday’s race.
This would go against McLaren’s firm policy of fair treatment of both drivers throughout the season. Mercedes driver Russell, who could have kept his point at the top of the leaderboard with the checkered flag on Sunday, believes it is now too late for McLaren to change its approach.
“I think it would be unfair to any driver [Lando or Oscar]”Russell told Independent And a small group of British journalists in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning. “If Max wins, he deserves to win.
“If they are in a position where Max is on track to win, and Oscar can allow Lando… I would not want to win the championship because my teammate has withdrawn, especially if he has been my rival that year.
“When it’s obviously someone who has been number two all season, I think that’s OK. I don’t think it’s right to follow any team’s orders at this stage, you just have to accept fate.”
Asked what he would do if Piastri was put in a potentially difficult situation, Russell joked: “It’s easier to unplug the radio!
“Obviously if you’re in a position on the team, you have to [allow the pass]But if you put yourself in the drivers’ shoes,,, at the end of the day, in two years’ time, if Lando is champion and that’s how he won, no one will remember,
“Nobody will really care. But for myself, being a racer, I don’t think at this stage of the season and given that they both have a chance… how can you discuss this in a morning meeting?”
While Norris needs a top-three finish, anything less opens the door for Verstappen – 104 points off the top spot earlier this season – to seal his fifth consecutive title.
However, to clinch an unlikely world championship now Piastri needs to win the race and Norris needs to finish sixth or lower.