Oscar Piastri is happy to accept McLaren team orders - but not any any price.
Oscar Piastri is prepared to obey McLaren team orders and help Lando Norris win this season's F1 drivers' title - but not at any cost.
Following the implementation of papaya rules ahead of the Italian Grand Prix that went dramatically astray when Piastri challenged and passed polesitter Norris on the opening lap, McLaren has been forced to take strident action.
Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed in the aftermath McLaren would favour Norris, who now faces a 52-point gap to three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings with six grands prix and three sprints remaining, and a total of 180 points up for grabs.
Although Piastri won the race after Monza in Azerbaijan to give himself an outside shot at the title, Norris' dominant weekend a week later in Singapore has ensured he is best placed to continue his pursuit of Verstappen with his Australian team-mate 94 points off the pace.
As to whether he is ready to face team orders during a grand prix, speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Piastri said: "The team wants to win both championships. If you have the opportunity to do so, you can't let it pass you by.
"If I'm only thinking about myself, I don't like team orders against me. No driver likes that. For your pride, you want to show that you are the fastest driver on the track.
"Nevertheless, I will help Lando in the final races if I am asked. He has the more realistic chance of winning the title. But that's not a blank cheque. It has to make sense for me to let him by."
Baku showed how team game is played - Piastri
Piastri is mindful of the fact McLaren is staring at the realistic possibility of becoming constructors' champions for the first time since 1998.
It has reeled in Red Bull over the course of the last eight races since Verstappen last took the chequered flag in Barcelona and now has a 41-point lead.
For Piastri, team orders will only make sense as long as it does not compromise the team in any way.
"We also want to win the constructors' championship, and sacrificing my race to help Lando won't help us achieve that goal," he said. "[So] We will decide on a case-by-case basis."
Referencing how Norris helped him in Azerbaijan by holding up Sergio Perez, Piastri added: "Baku showed how we do things at McLaren. If Lando hadn't stopped Perez after the first pit stop, I might not have won. He has a share in my victory."
