Oscar Piastri believes McLaren’s internal rivalry with Norris could prove vital in their effort to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Oscar Piastri believes that his title fight with teammate Lando Norris is also an asset in the battle against Max Verstappen.
McLaren F1, with two strong drivers, must manage an internal rivalry for the crown this season, while also being careful that the Red Bull driver doesn’t take advantage of too balanced a points distribution between them.
It’s a balancing act on paper, but for the Australian driver, it’s also an extra source of motivation.
“It’s helpful in certain situations,” Piastri said of the two-against-one battle.
“There’s no need to balance both strategies; we can focus all the attention on Max, but at the same time, Lando and I benefit from pushing each other.”
“Max is obviously very experienced and very talented, but I think Lando and I have found lap time thanks to having a competitive teammate on either side, though it also comes with challenges.”
“In the end, we want to fight for the championship, to beat every driver on the grid, and if someone is pushing you, it certainly presents challenges for the team and the driver, but it also raises your level — which is ultimately what you’re looking for.”