How far can Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri go in their internal battle for the title at McLaren? The two teammates have already encountered each other on the track in Canada and Austria, fighting hard to secure the most World Championship points. However, according to Norris, the line was only crossed in Canada: “The boundary is essentially ‘no contact’,” reveals the British driver.
With the most recent Grand Prix victory under his belt, achieved during the Austrian GP, Lando Norris is on the eve of his home race weekend. The Brit needs sixteen more World Championship points than teammate Oscar Piastri to overtake the championship leader. The internal title fight at McLaren has already caused action on the track during the past Grands Prix, but how far can the two drivers actually go according to the British racing team?
“The boundary is essentially ‘no contact’,” Norris explains in the press conference at Silverstone. “It’s simple but at the same time it’s not, because when you’re racing at the limit, it’s easy to make a mistake. We are the best drivers in the world, but we still make mistakes. However, that’s the line we don’t want to cross. We (Norris and Piastri) can get close to each other, and make each other nervous. But if we do something stupid, that’s definitely the limit.”
Not Yet at Last Year’s Level
Norris once crossed that clear boundary from McLaren in Canada. The British driver attempted an overtaking maneuver on Piastri in the final stages of the race in Montreal, but instead hit the rear of the Australian’s MCL39. The race was immediately over for Norris, while Piastri still managed to secure fourth place. However, the Brit took his revenge by winning the Grand Prix in Austria.
“In Austria, I felt more comfortable in the car, but I still don’t feel like I’m at the same level as last year,” reflects the McLaren driver on the weekend in Spielberg. “I’m trying to expand my vocabulary as a driver, by working with the team and in the simulator. But last year, I really felt more in control of the car.”
