Lewis Hamilton says Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are under immense pressure as McLaren and Red Bull battle for F1 championship supremacy.
Lewis Hamilton explained that the pressure on Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris is “unimaginable” for most people, as the F1 title fight intensifies.
Piastri Leads, Hamilton Delighted
The 40-year-old believes the former, in particular, is doing “an excellent job” this season, as the two McLaren drivers engage in an intra-team battle with the looming threat of Max Verstappen.
Piastri leads the standings after seven rounds. The Australian holds a 13-point advantage over Norris, while the Red Bull driver trails by a further nine points.
The dual championship dynamic makes for an enticing prospect, and Hamilton says it’s “great” to see his former team return to its past glory.
McLaren Duo Impress Hamilton
“I find the job he’s doing fantastic,” said the Ferrari driver when asked about his view on Piastri and his current form.
“It’s a huge pleasure for me to see McLaren performing so well, because that’s where I started.”
“And also to see how close they are, he and Lando – two great drivers. The pressure on them is unimaginable, I would say, for most people who don’t know what it’s like.”
“And even though I’ve experienced it, it seems that Lando, and especially Oscar, are doing an excellent job, weekend after weekend, performing well in qualifying…”
Piastri has had the upper hand over Norris in qualifying sessions so far this season, turning a former weakness over one lap into a strength – while the British driver has slipped back in that area.
Piastri Needs No Advice
For Hamilton, this fits into a broader context. The seven-time F1 world champion said that, given Piastri’s overall performances, he had no advice to offer the Australian.
“He’s doing everything he needs to win a world championship. So I have no advice to give him. Just keep doing what he’s doing, because it seems to be working.”
“For Lando, he knows the speed is there. He seems a little more unsettled with the car on the edge, but it’s all very marginal. If he finds the key, the fight will be very balanced again with Oscar, and it’ll be great to watch.”
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