Lando Norris Credits Oscar Piastri for Pushing Him to First F1 Title
After winning his first F1 title, Lando Norris credited teammate Oscar Piastri for pushing him harder than any previous rival, including Daniel Ricciardo and Carlos Sainz, forcing him to elevate his performance to a new level.
Lando Norris clinched his first Formula 1 World Championship after a tense three-way battle, but he credits his teammate Oscar Piastri as the driving force behind his victory. Norris admitted that Piastri pushed him to 'dig deeper' than ever before, a level of internal competition he never experienced with former teammates Carlos Sainz or Daniel Ricciardo. The McLaren driver's late-season surge was crucial in overcoming Piastri's mid-season dominance and Max Verstappen's late charge to win the title by just two points.
Why it matters:
Norris's admission underscores the unique pressure and value of fighting a world championship against a teammate. While many teams impose team orders to secure a title, McLaren's decision to allow a fair fight ultimately elevated both drivers. This internal rivalry not only forged a stronger champion in Norris but also signals a formidable and long-term partnership at the front of the grid, promising intense competition for years to come.
The details:
- Mid-Season Shift: After the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Piastri held a 34-point lead and appeared destined for the title. A subsequent slump from the Australian, combined with a surge from Norris and Verstappen, created a dramatic three-way fight culminating in Abu Dhabi.
- Forced to Evolve: Norris stated Piastri's consistent performance mid-season 'made me have to dig even deeper than I ever have before.' He emphasized the improvement wasn't just on-track but involved 'a lot of other things that go on in the background' to build resilience.
- A New Benchmark: The champion explicitly compared Piastri's challenge to that of his previous McLaren teammates, saying, 'with Carlos, with Daniel... he’s made me have to dig even deeper.'
- Team Strategy: Norris praised team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown for managing the intra-team battle, noting it's 'certainly tougher than just having one car' but a approach the team would always prefer.
What's next:
The Norris-Piastri rivalry is far from over; it's just getting started. Norris himself conceded, 'at some point, he’s going to get the better of me, because he’s an incredible driver.' With both drivers signed for the foreseeable future and McLaren providing a competitive car, their battle is poised to become the defining rivalry of the next era of Formula 1. The 2025 season will be a direct test of whether Norris can defend his crown against the teammate who helped him win it.