After two races in the World Championship, both McLaren drivers have a victory under their belt. So far, everything has been harmonious between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, but the latter does not rule out that tensions could rise. He looks forward to the remainder of the Formula 1 season with a mix of ‘nervousness and excitement’.
“We were free to race in Australia and here in China, so I’m sure we’ll race more fiercely at some point,” Norris said after the Grand Prix of China. “We’re both excited, probably nervous and excited at the same time, and I’m sure the team will be too.”
The Brit leads the championship after two races with a lead of eight points over Max Verstappen and ten over his teammate Oscar Piastri. Norris sees Piastri as a formidable opponent, which he views as an advantage. “We’re ready for it. Apart from Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, I don’t see any other team with two drivers pushing each other so hard. That’s a huge advantage for us.”
Inevitable
In addition to the drivers’ championship, there is also the constructors’ championship. A teammate who takes points away from the competition can be crucial in this regard. Norris, therefore, wants to ‘maximize’, or strive for one-two finishes with the team, as this helps to beat every other team. “But we know that no matter how much we collaborate and have a good time and enjoy, we also know that we want to try to beat each other and show who is the best. And that is inevitable,” Norris suspects. “So there’s no point in hiding from that fact or making something of it. We are two competitors who both want to win.”
Good Luck with Oscar and Lando
The last time teammates in Formula 1 competed for the world championship, tensions ran high. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were initially friends at Mercedes, but their relationship quickly cooled. However, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is confident that Norris and Piastri will keep their cool. “When it comes to internal competition within the team, we’ve been trying to be ready for that for a long time,” he said. “But like all things in Formula 1, it would be very arrogant to say ‘oh, now we’re ready’. You learn because the scenarios are very complex and they never manifest in the same way.”
“For me, it’s important that the fundamental values that everyone brings to support the interests of the team are healthy and according to our principles,” Stella added. “We are very lucky with Oscar and Lando, as that comes naturally. I am sure there will be situations, but I am also sure that they will be reviewed and that we will learn and grow even more in the way we protect the interests of our team.”