Piastri Expects Equal Treatment at McLaren in 2026 Despite Norris' Title

Oscar Piastri has dismissed suggestions that Lando Norris's new status as Formula 1 world champion will lead to preferential treatment at McLaren in 2026, stating he expects "full fairness and equality" to continue. The Australian, who finished third in the 2025 championship after a season-long battle with his teammate, emphasized that Norris has "not become Superman" and that their dynamic remains unchanged.

Why it matters:

The question of team hierarchy is a perennial one in Formula 1, especially when a driver secures a first championship. Piastri's firm stance underscores McLaren's commitment to a two-driver title challenge and tests whether a team can sustain true equality after one of its drivers becomes a champion—a balance few teams in F1 history have managed successfully without internal conflict.

The details:

• Piastri directly countered post-race theories that Norris's title would shift the team's balance, stating, "I don't think that will change anything... I'm expecting full fairness from the team and equality going forward."
• He acknowledged Norris's superior performance in the title-deciding season, saying the Briton "ultimately did a better job," but separated that achievement from any future team policy.
• The 2025 season was a public test of McLaren's "papaya rules" approach to driver equality, with both drivers competing for the title until the final race in Abu Dhabi.
• Piastri highlighted the health of their relationship, noting the intense competition made both drivers better, even if it created "difficult moments and tension at times."

Between the lines:

Piastri's comments reflect a driver who, despite losing the championship from a leading position, feels secure in his standing within the team. His focus on "lessons learned in and out of the car" from his mid-season slump—a six-race podium drought that cost him the title lead—suggests a mindset geared toward personal development rather than attributing the outcome to team orders or resource allocation. The promise of off-season discussions about "anything we want to do slightly differently" indicates a collaborative, rather than divisive, path forward for the pairing.

What's next:

The real test of McLaren's philosophy will come in 2026. If the team produces another championship-contending car, the pressure to consolidate efforts behind a reigning champion will intensify, especially during critical development phases or tight strategic calls. Piastri's belief in continued equality sets an expectation the team will now be compelled to meet as they aim to defend their constructors' title and facilitate another two-driver fight at the front.