English Woman's Journal - McDonald's, Monopoly help Piastri, Norris make up from Hungarian Grand Prix dispute

It was the 22-year-old Australian's maiden Formula One triumph, delivered after Norris obeyed instructions to slow down and give his place as leader back to Piastri, who had been disadvantaged by a team decision to give Norris a favourable strategy.

"We've not really spoken much about the race," he told reporters on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

"We've shared McDonald's and played Monopoly. We're still on good terms -- on the same terms. We're all good and there's still a lot of respect there between us. It goes both ways. We're still good."

He said McLaren have 'rules of engagement' in place for times when the two drivers are fighting for position during a race.

"We discuss that we're racing for the team and we’ve been, maybe not in a one-two scenario, but we’ve been close to each other a lot of times on track and close for podiums and stuff like that before.

"There is an expectation that we’re going to race each other hard, but fair and never come into contact.

"We always have in mind that certain strategic decisions - like the second pit-stop timing - are done with the team's ambitions in mind.

"So, like I said, if we were flat out racing each other and we didn’t have anyone else to worry about behind us then the pit-stop order would have been completely different I’m sure.

"But we did have cars to worry about, so that’s why we swapped it and that’s why we swapped it back."

- 'Early in the season' -

Asked if he would do the same and give up a place for his team-mate, Piastri clarified the question.

"I'm not sure I'd say he gave it to me -- maybe he gave it back to me," he said.

"Ultimately, he did give the position back and I know it’s not an easy position to be in. Especially as we all want to go out and win.

"Maybe it took a few laps longer than maybe I thought, but it still happened and it's extremely easy, in the heat of the moment, leading a race, to think selfishly.

"I would have thought selfishly as well, but we go racing for McLaren knowing that certain decisions are made with the team in mind and that we are racing for the team at the end of the day.”

As to the prospect of working in Norris's interests later in the season if he had a chance to win the drivers' title, Piastri accepted such a scenario was possible.

"Yes, I know that that is a possibility," he said.

"Of course ,I want to try and get myself up as high as I can, but ultimately I race for McLaren and they have the ultimate say.

"I'm going to try and make up as many points as a I can, of course, we're still very early in the season and I’m a long way behind in the drivers’ standings, but I’m also not out of it and it doesn't take that many races to be in the same position that Lando's in. So, let's see how it plays out."

K.Marshall--EWJ