Norris responds to 'stupid' McLaren team orders suggestion

Lando Norris has branded the idea McLaren would enact team orders during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix "stupid" after his early elimination from qualifying in Baku.

The 24-year-old had to back out of his final push lap in Q1 due to an Estaban Ocon-induced yellow flag in the final sector, leaving him to start the race from P17.

Following the birth of papaya rules, McLaren has explained it will now prioritise Norris on a case-by-case basis as he fights Max Verstappen for the F1 drivers' title.

However, with Oscar Piastri qualifying second, that is unlikely to be a factor during Sunday's grand prix.

When asked in front of media including RacingNews365 if he can expect any help from his team-mate during the race, Norris replied: "No, that would be stupid."

The two-time grand prix winner stated that his hope for the race live and die with strategy, explaining he expects those around him to be difficult to get past.

"I think everything is going have to be done with strategy, because you can't overtake," the McLaren driver said.

"There's plenty of cars at the back which just take all the wing off and hope for the best, and that makes it impossible for a lot of cars to overtake them.

"The car is quick, we can hope that that can come into our hands and at some point I can get clean air, but on a street circuit, everything gets backed up so much, you just get forced into a position and you can't do a lot at times.

"We'll hope for the best, but I don't expect anything that's real, unless strategy comes into play."

McLaren had looked a shade off the front-running pace through the three practice sessions in Baku, but Norris was quick to highlight that was not a factor in his early qualifying exit.

The British driver was seen peeling into the pit lane at the end of his final timed run, consigning him to the Q1 elimination in strange circumstances.

As Norris passed the stricken Ocon, he lighting panel went green, but he had already lifted. After he was back in the pits, race engineer Will Joseph could be heard apologising over team radio.

"No, we weren't really on the back foot," Norris said.

"Just the guy ahead of me [Ocon] crashed and there was yellow flags. I was feeling good.

"When you have a two kilometres straight and you have to lift at the beginning, of course, there was nothing I could do."