A former McLaren insider warns that Norris and Piastri’s rivalry could fracture the team, jeopardizing their success and harmony.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri won’t be able to stay friends if they find themselves battling for the world title, despite being teammates at McLaren F1. That’s the view of Marc Priestley, a former mechanic for the Woking team who witnessed the Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton rivalry firsthand.
“Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are two excellent drivers with a lot of potential,” Priestley stated. “There’s still an enormous untapped potential between the two. Neither of them had ever won a Grand Prix before this season, so the potential is huge. They are both in a very strong position.”
“However, if they are both competing for the championship next season, and the only person standing in each other’s way is the other, there’s no chance Norris and Piastri will remain friends. I’ve never seen it happen, and I don’t think it can.”
“Since the age of seven or eight, these drivers have dreamt of becoming F1 champions, and when the only competition is the guy wearing the same suit in the same garage, he becomes your enemy. That’s the reality of the sport.”
“I was at McLaren when this rare situation unfolded, and things got unpleasant, with elbows out on the race track. We saw it with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Hamilton, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.”
Priestley is concerned about the challenges Andrea Stella will face managing such a situation, similar to how Ron Dennis struggled in 2007: “I’ve never seen a team successfully handle such a rivalry, which can split the team in two.”
“That was the case when I worked with Alonso and Hamilton. It can destroy the team as a whole. This could happen in 2025. It might be an unmanageable scenario for McLaren in a kind and polite way.”
Former driver Johnny Herbert is convinced Piastri has the talent to become champion and expects an intense battle in 2025: “Piastri has the right attitude. It’s about him, and he doesn’t care about others. That’s the mindset he needs for a new season where McLaren will start as favorites.”
“He has Mark Webber as his manager. Oscar knows what he needs to do. If he comes out strong and dominates, he’ll be in a very good position, but I don’t think Lando will let that happen. Lando has been outstanding in his qualifying performances and continues to race brilliantly.”
“The competition will push both of them. I like Oscar’s mindset. The next big showdown of the upcoming season will be between Oscar and Lando! McLaren will lead ahead of Red Bull, followed by Ferrari and Mercedes.”
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Could 2025 Spark a Rivalry That Splits McLaren’s Team? Could 2025 Spark a Rivalry That Splits McLaren’s Team?
