Lando Norris of McLaren celebrates his second place finish in qualifying parc ferme alongside his teammate Oscar Piastri, who finished in third place. The event took place on July 8, 2023, during the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 11, the British Grand Prix, at Silverstone in England, on Qualifying Day.
Oscar Piastri emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open and transparent relationship with his teammate Lando Norris in order for the McLaren Formula 1 team to achieve its goals. Piastri joined the team in place of Daniel Ricciardo before the start of the current season. However, McLaren faced challenges as they fell short of their development targets with the MCL60 car.
Despite the setbacks, McLaren’s mid-season upgrade package turned their fortunes around, leading to Piastri securing two podium finishes and a victory in the Sprint race in Qatar. Norris acknowledged that Piastri’s performance has been keeping him on his toes in 2023, and there are expectations that Piastri will pose an even greater challenge to Norris in his second year in Formula 1.
Looking ahead to 2024, McLaren is expected to become a contender against Red Bull. Piastri emphasizes that he and Norris must continue to maintain a partnership without any barriers in order to close the remaining gap. He states that their relationship remains unchanged and that they need to work together to help the team develop the car.
Piastri acknowledges the efforts of the team’s engineers and the staff at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in their pursuit of improvement. He highlights the importance of sharing data and information openly between him and Norris, as it will benefit both drivers. While they aim to help each other, Piastri emphasizes the need for respectful racing.
Reflecting on McLaren’s slow start to the season, Piastri states that it did not change the expectations placed on him. He acknowledges that he will always be compared to Norris, regardless of the team’s performance. Despite trailing Norris in points, Piastri achieved a breakthrough victory in Formula 1, something that his more experienced teammate has yet to accomplish. Piastri remains focused on learning and contributing to the team’s success.