Max Verstappen has claimed Oscar Piastri is not “the type to be labelled a second driver” amid McLaren’s decision to prioritise his Formula 1 teammate Lando Norris.
Norris heads into the weekend in Baku situated 62 points behind Verstappen, who asserted that retaining his title is “not realistic” based on Red Bull’s plight in Monza.
Red Bull has endured a dramatic regression in competitiveness since a dominant opening to the start, with Verstappen having not triumphed in the previous six races.
The Woking-based squad, which has closed to eight points behind Red Bull, is aiming to capitalise on its main competitor’s struggles to claim a championship double.
However, Verstappen has highlighted that Piastri’s 44-point margin to Norris in the Drivers’ Championship is less than the gap Norris must overturn to catch up to him.
“Ultimately I’m not disappointed about it,” Verstappen told RacingNews365. “Of course they do what they want and it’s not my problem.
“I have my own problems at the moment. If you look at it from Oscar’s perspective, he’s closer to Lando than Lando is to me. They have to deal with that.”
McLaren had shown a reluctance to impose team orders earlier in the campaign as the team’s senior management stressed that both drivers held number-one status.
However, Red Bull’s issues and Piastri’s brave opening-lap move on his team-mate in the Italian Grand Prix have prompted McLaren to now pledge its hopes on Norris.
But while Piastri has stated he is prepared to relinquish points to help Norris, Verstappen has argued that the Australian’s high level could complicate McLaren’s plans.
“They (Norris and Piastri) were not far apart, also in the championship,” the three-time F1 champion continued.
“Oscar came in as the first driver and I don’t think he is the type to be labelled as the second driver.”
