Rivalry between McLaren drivers: “We will each fight for the championship”
McLaren arrived in Melbourne with the tag of favorites after their winter testing in Bahrain, helped in part by Lando Norris's super run on the second day and data showing they were also quick over one lap. If, as in 2024, both drivers perform, the question of who is the number 1 driver will quickly have to be addressed.
Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri, who has just signed a new multi-year contract with McLaren, are optimistic without being overly confident about their ability to compete at the highest level this season. This will also demonstrate that last year’s victory was not just an isolated incident.
McLaren believes that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri can coexist without any issues as the team enters the new season as a favorite.
Norris remains the favorite this year for the title.
This Thursday morning, in a press conference, Lando Norris stated: « I am happy and glad that it’s starting, I am relaxed, which is probably the best thing. I feel good and ready to go, not in a way where people would take it as confidence, but I think we have a good car to start the season. And I don’t think we are superior to any of our competitors. I hear a lot of discussions about it, a lot of things have been said in the last two weeks, but I don’t think we are further ahead than last season. I think it will be a tough weekend for us, as we will fight with everyone, but we are in a good position to start in the right way and with confidence.»
During an interview with CNBC after the Bahrain tests, Norris stated: We are free to race. We are happy to face off and compete against each other. Of course, we know we will often be up against each other this season, and I hope that’s the case.
Piastri, the challenger
On his part, Oscar Piastri stated that he is resetting the counters to zero at the start of this season. « We’re both starting the season at zero, and we’re both going to try to fight for the world championship. I’m aware that there are things I need to improve compared to last year, but we’ve worked hard to make progress. I’m ready to have a great season. »
Oscar, during this morning’s press conference in Melbourne, also expressed confidence and said he learned a lot from last year.
« I feel like we are on equal footing with the other three teams in the top 3. I still believe we are in the top 4. But there are many things that others haven’t seen that made a difference, especially at Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari. I know how much fuel and equipment Ferrari had available for most of the testing. We expect to be somewhere ahead, whether it’s right at the beginning, but let’s wait until Saturday. »
A journalist asked him a question about Zack’s comments in the Netflix series Drive to Survive that it was the beginning of the Lando Norris era. « I am very confident in what I can do myself. Obviously, we are each going to fight for the championship title « ». I am also aware of the things I need to improve from last season. » He also added that he hasn’t watched the series and he expressed doubts about the production and editing of the scenes.
