It took 20 laps of lobbying from Lando Norris’ race engineer Will Joseph before their driver accepted the call to move aside for his team mate.
The decision to give up a win when ordered to is never an easy one, and Norris is far from the first driver to agonise over it. Indeed, several of his predecessors flat-out refused, though more have done what he did and acquiesced to their team’s wishes.
Will Norris’ decision pay off in the long-term? Would all of his rivals have been as willing to let Oscar Piastri take his first win?
These are some of the most famous cases of drivers being told to give up victories – whether or not they agreed to.
Carlos Reutemann
Disobeyed team orders for Alan Jones at the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix
Alan Jones and Williams got their first season as defending champions off to a strong start at Long Beach, where he scored the 11th win of his career. But the team’s attempt to impose a running order at the second round at a soaked Jacarepagua backfired: Carlos Reutemann wasn’t having any of it, and nor could he really be expected to, as staying ahead ensured his 11th victory.
The consequences were dire for Williams. Although their evolved FW07 was easily quick enough to take the constructors’ title, Brabham’s Nelson Piquet beat their feuding drivers to the title, as each only scored one more win all season. A case study in the importance of intra-team harmony.
Didier Pironi
Disobeyed team orders for Gilles Villeneuve at the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix
F1’s most tragic team orders tale, as Gilles Villeneuve died 13 days after this explosive falling-out with his team mate Didier Pironi. The Ferraris had the fight for victory to themselves and put on a show in front of a depleted field, but when it came to the serious business of who would win, Pironi refused to fall into line. The furious Villeneuve vowed never to speak to him again, and it seems he never did.
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Rene Arnoux
Disobeyed team orders for Alain Prost at the 1982 French Grand Prix
Later the same year, Renault also managed to contrive a falling-out over team orders at their home race. Heading into the 11th round of the season, Alain Prost was only 16 points off the lead, held…
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