Oscar Piastri has asserted that he and McLaren team-mate Lando Norris will avoid “unsportsmanlike” tactics in Formula 1 that “cause damage that can’t be repaired”.
Piastri goes into this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix with a three-point lead over Norris, who ended a six-race run without a single win at the previous round in Monaco.
McLaren’s dominant start – which has comprised six victories in the opening eight races – has seen the Drivers’ title billed as a direct battle between Piastri and Norris.
But while the relationship between the duo has remained cordial to this point, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has conceded the team is braced for a collision to materialise.
However, Piastri has denied that either he or Norris could be tempted to resort to contentious moves on track in a bid to gain an upper hand in the championship race.
“It’s impossible to have your own personal goal directly in parallel with the team’s,” Piastri acknowledged to media including Motorsport Week.
“And that’s something we’ve both been very frank about, something that the team have been very aware of, because at the end of last year, we felt that if we went into this year with a car as strong as we’d finished with, we’d be in this situation.
“I think we’ve been very good at being open about it, just talking about it.
“But we’re never going to do anything that’s unsportsmanlike or puts the team in a bad light or puts ourselves in a bad light. I think that’s just not who Lando and I are.”
Piastri unwilling to compromise long-term McLaren prospects
With both drivers tied to long-term deals, Piastri has admitted that it would be an “unwise” decision to risk triggering an irreparable divide within McLaren this season.
“Of course, we want to go out and beat each other every weekend, but we’re never going to cross that line that’s going to cause damage that can’t be repaired,” the Australian acknowledged.
“Because I’ve said it a few times now, we don’t want just one opportunity at this.
“We’re both at McLaren for a very long time after this year, and we want to fight for the championship every single year.
“And I think we both understand it’s pretty unwise to try and win one championship and bring the house down with it.”
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