The 2023 Japanese GP has marked the return of Max Verstappen on the pole for the ninth time in the season. After a quick hiatus from the front row, the Red Bull man is back but this time with vengeance in his eyes. Perhaps redemption as well for the disappointing events of the Singapore GP. The Japanese GP can be monumental for Red Bull and Verstappen as they can wrap up the constructor’s title under certain conditions. However, taking the crown of the second fastest team of the weekend in Japan, McLaren’s Lando Norris has an idea that can help stop Verstappen and Co. All he needs is his teammate’s help inspired by Ayrton Senna from the 1990 season.

To give you some background, Senna and Alain Prost were fighting for the championship for the third season in a row. In the penultimate race, Senna knew a scenario wherein if he finished ahead of Prost or both crashed out, he would be crowned champion. After multiple protests falling to deaf years about the pole position being on the dirty side of the grid, which put Senna at a disadvantage, the Brazilian decided to take matters into his own hands.

Senna dove into Prost heading into turn 1 during the 1990 Japanese GP taking both out and securing the championship. A furious Prost post-race threatened to retire from the sport and called Senna’s tactics, “disgusting” And called him, “A man without value”.

Lando Norris‘s suggestion to Piastri starting from P2, as seen on X, was to recreate the 1990 Japanese GP. In the post-qualifying presser, Norris said, “We’re going to try. I mean if he’s (Verstappen) leading by turn 2 there’s not a lot you can really do.” Then Norris turned to his teammate to give the “disgusting” suggestion.

He added, “I don’t know. If you want to emulate Prost, Oscar into turn 1, or Senna into turn 1 you can do that happily. It would be lovely for me.” A divebomb from Piastri taking Verstappen out won’t affect the championship in any way. In fact, it will just momentarily delay the inevitable for the champion-elect.

Read More: Verstappen v. Hamilton – Lando Norris Delivers Verdict as Oscar Piastri Provides Perfect Escape

However, more than Verstappen, it’s Norris who needs to watch his back from his teammate.

Max Verstappen aside, Oscar Piastri fires a warning at Lando Norris

Ever since the astonishing McLaren upgrades, the Australian has been justifying the hype around him. After proving his mettle McLaren was quick to act and extended the rookie’s contract for multiple years. To commemorate the extension, Piastri out-qualified his teammate for the Japanese GP and secured a front-row start. This result is in line with what his intentions are at McLaren. Something he revealed a few weeks ago during a press conference.

“It doesn’t really require a team leader mentality so much if you’re both saying the same things,” he said. “I’m obviously able to get quite close to Lando in most sessions. But I want to take that next step and really be able to challenge him.”

With his comments in mind, the first target on Norris’s back is Piastri as he attempts to ridicule any team hierarchy talks.

We are not sure if these tensions will boil over or if Norris will calm the rookie sensation down. Regardless of what happens, we are here to witness it firsthand.

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