F1 News: Lando Norris On Piastri Pressure - "It's Not A Nice Thing, It's Not What I Want"
Lando Norris commented on the rising pressure from teammate Oscar Piastri, who recently extended his McLaren contract until the end of 2026. Norris acknowledged Piastri's exceptional performance but admitted, "It's not a nice thing. It's not what I want."
Key Takeaways
- Oscar Piastri has signed a contract extension with McLaren until the end of 2026, despite his current contract running until the end of 2024. The young Australian has impressed in his rookie season, currently sitting eleventh in the driver's standings with 42 points.
- Lando Norris, who is contracted with McLaren until the end of 2025, spoke candidly about the pressure from Piastri, saying that while he's happy for him, the increasing competition is not what he desires.
- McLaren's leadership, including CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andrea Stella, have expressed great confidence in Piastri, highlighting his role in the team's recent turnaround and anticipating his contribution to future championship ambitions.
McLaren has been in the limelight recently for locking in their young talent, Oscar Piastri, until the end of 2026. The decision came despite Piastri's current contract running until the end of 2024, a testament to the Australian driver's impactful debut season. His performances have not only caught the eye of McLaren's leadership but also raised the competitive stakes within the team.
Discussing the situation, Lando Norris said:
"Yeah, first, I mean, congrats to him. I think any contract that allows you to be longer in Formula 1 is a great thing.
"He's performed, he's done everything he's needed to, and probably, I think, exceeded most people's expectations from what he's been able to achieve already this season. He's pushed me a lot.
"And it's not a nice thing. It's not what I want. But yeah, he's done a really good job. So congrats to him for another few years. And yeah, we've had a fun first half of the season. And it's a lot of progress.
"And I think for him to be part of that progress, and to hopefully continue that into next year. ’25 and ‘26 for himself, is going to be something to look forward to."
Norris's statements reflect a nuanced emotional landscape within McLaren. On the one hand, there's evident admiration and respect for Piastri's accomplishments so far this season. On the other, Norris's candid admission reveals the pressures that come with a high-performing teammate, especially one locked in for the long term like himself.
Piastri's contract extension not only signals McLaren's faith in him but also sets the stage for a compelling intra-team rivalry. With Norris contracted until the end of 2025, the current driver pairing is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown praised Piastri as "an incredible talent and an asset to the team," while Team Principal Andrea Stella highlighted Piastri's pivotal role in the team's ambitions to win championships again in the future.
As the McLaren duo prepares for the coming seasons, it's clear that the dynamics within the team will be under intense scrutiny. Both drivers are young, talented, and now secured for the long term. The question remains: how will this affect the team's performance and atmosphere, and who will emerge as the leading force?
On being asked how good McLaren's driver line-up is right now, Lando was simple with his answer: "The strongest."