Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could find themselves in a direct head-to-head for their first F1 championship. It looks increasingly unlikely that any of McLaren’s rivals will be able to stop them.
After retiring at the Austrian GP, Max Verstappen is more than 60 points behind. George Russell was seen as a dark horse after winning in Canada, but Mercedes’ anonymous Spielberg performance confirmed that they were too inconsistent.
This could be a repeat of the 2016 season, when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg did battle at a dominant Mercedes team. Rosberg eventually prevailed by just five points.
McLaren are confident that they can avoid the kind of fallout that Toto Wolff experienced back then. But if the gap remains tight heading into the last third of the season, then tension feels inevitable.
Oscar Piastri says Lando Norris is too open for his own good
Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of the British Grand Prix, Piastri said Norris’ openness was a ‘good quality’. The Englishman has been strikingly honest about his shortcomings in the media.
And Piastri’s comments here may indicate that he doesn’t keep any secrets behind the scenes either. Given the sheer volume of data available to both drivers, this may be futile anyway.
While Piastri respects his attitude, he thinks it’s hurting Norris at times. And he adds that their friendship won’t influence his decision-making on track.
“Lando is a very open person,” he said. “Speaking honestly, sometimes to his own detriment. But at the same time, it is a good quality to have. We are different people, but I do respect the way he goes about it.
“My opinion is you can’t give an inch to anyone, regardless of who it is – in racing or in sport. And that doesn’t really change. Especially once the helmet goes on. I get on with Lando. But once the helmet goes on, for all 20 of us, there are no more friends.”
Jenson Button explains why Lando Norris is in the ‘worst’ position on the F1 grid
While he’s been accused of being too emotional in the past, Norris says he won’t cry if he wins the championship. He seems to have made an effort to be more level-headed.
Indeed, Norris keeps being asked why he isn’t celebrating after scoring pole position. The two drivers had to adjust their personal targets after McLaren surged to the top of the pecking order.
In the eyes of Jenson Button, Piastri would be the ‘worst teammate’. That’s because it’s impossible to ‘rattle him’.
McLaren haven’t secured a one-two in the drivers’ standings since Alain Prost beat Ayrton Senna back in 1989.
