Lando Norris gives up position to Piastri in the sprint before the Qatar GP

In the last Formula 1 sprint race, in Qatar, the final result came unexpectedly: Lando Norris giving up his first place to Oscar Piastri. According to himself, the maneuver of allowing his racing partner to pass was in return for a favor at the São Paulo GP, in which his partner also gave up his position as leader, allowing Lando to score more points.

_{Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (Photo: reproduction/MAGO/Motorsport Images)}

Empathy is a response

At the São Paulo GP, Norris was still very close to Max Vestappen and had a chance of becoming champion for the first time. The team was so concerned about the achievement that it left its rule in the dust: at McLaren, drivers can fight for position, but in São Paulo, the priority was Norris. However, teammate Piastri maintained the lead of the race for most of the time. Pressured by Norris on the radio, he decided to let him take the lead and gain eight points at the end of the race.

However, kindness between fellow runners was not enough. Norris had a poor performance, hampered by heavy rain, which led him to lose the lead and end the GP in sixth place, looking from afar on the podium at Vestappen's devastating victory, opening up a large lead of 62 points. Thus, discredited, McLaren began to focus on the constructors' world championship.

After their position swap in Brazil, Lando Norris pays the favor back to Oscar Piastri in Qatar #F1Sprint #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/9L6l1o8yay

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 30, 2024

_{Post about the moment Norris gives up his position to Piastri (Photo: reproduction/X/@Formula1)}

Change of focus, change of attitude

After putting pressure on Piastri in São Paulo, Qatar, the weather was milder. With his focus now redefined for the team championship, Norris decided to return his teammate's gesture as a form of thanks: “Honestly, I don't care. I'm not here to win sprint races, I'm here to win races and the championship.”

The Qatar GP takes place this Sunday (1st), at 1pm Brasília time. Max Vestappen figures to be one of the biggest winners of this stage, alongside Lewis Hamilton. ge.globo follows everything in real time for another possible kindness show.

Featured photo: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris celebrate McLaren's double podium at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix (reproduction/McLaren)