Piastri: “I Can Beat Norris to the Title, That’s Why I Stayed”

Oscar Piastri is ready to take on McLaren teammate Lando Norris, with eyes firmly set on a world title next season.

Oscar Piastri is crystal clear about his ambitions: he’s not at McLaren to play second fiddle. The young Australian says he wouldn’t have extended his contract if he didn’t believe he could challenge teammate Lando Norris for the world championship in 2025.

While Norris currently leads the standings and is widely seen as McLaren’s frontman, it was Piastri who made headlines with a standout performance at the last Grand Prix in China.

According to Norris, only Ferrari can match McLaren when it comes to having a truly balanced driver lineup. He added that teams like Red Bull benefit from favoring one driver, allowing Max Verstappen to score maximum points without internal competition.

“Our system will always win in the long run,” Norris said confidently. “Even against the best driver on the grid.”

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella shares that belief. “Lando and Oscar bring out the best in each other. They grow more together than they would alone.”

Behind the scenes, Piastri’s manager — former F1 driver Mark Webber — is believed to have secured equal number-one status for his driver, making it harder for McLaren to lean on traditional “Papaya rules” favoring a clear team leader.

Despite rumored interest from Red Bull, Piastri recently signed a long-term deal with McLaren. On Drive to Survive, Red Bull boss Christian Horner didn’t hesitate when asked who he’d pick between the two McLaren drivers — “Oscar,” he answered.

But for Piastri, staying at McLaren was a no-brainer.

“For me, there was never really a serious look at other teams,” he said. “McLaren just felt right — not just the car, but the culture and the people. This is where I want to be. I believe I can win here.”

And beating Norris?

“If I didn’t believe I could, I probably wouldn’t have signed that extension. I’m sure of it.”

Of course, McLaren has history when it comes to fiery intra-team rivalries — from Senna vs. Prost to Alonso vs. Hamilton. Could things boil over again?

Two Lions, One World Title

CEO Zak Brown is aware of the risk. “We know it can happen if we’re not careful,” he admitted. “It depends a lot on the drivers’ personalities. Right now, we have two lions in the same cage — but they get along.”

He added that the team has learned valuable lessons from past tensions: “Transparency is everything. That’s why we involve both drivers in marketing, team events, and even off-track things like golf and dinners. It helps build trust.”

As the F1 circus heads to Japan, Piastri arrives as the latest race winner — but he still trails Norris, Verstappen, and even George Russell in the standings.

“I’m comfortable in this position. I’m paying for a tough weekend back in Australia.”

“But I’m not here just to take part — I’m here to become world champion. These past two seasons, I’ve proven to myself — more than anyone else — that I have what it takes. I’m not at my peak yet, but I’m doing everything I can to get there fast.”

“And when I’m at my best, I know I can beat anyone.”

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Why Piastri Believes He’ll Beat Norris to the Crown
Why Piastri Believes He’ll Beat Norris to the Crown