McLaren’s Lando Norris has found himself in a commanding position in the drivers’ standings and gives credit where it’s due—highlighting both McLaren and Ferrari for their exceptional driver line-ups. He appreciated the intense rivalry within these teams, specifically pointing out how it drives performance to new heights.
Even after a shining performance at the season opener in Australia, Norris experienced a rocky start in Shanghai. The initial days were challenging, but by the time the crucial Saturday qualifying rolled around, he managed to find his pace, trailing just behind team-mate Oscar Piastri to claim second place in the Chinese Grand Prix.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, remarked on Norris’s impressive turnaround over the weekend, attributing much of his improvement to insights gained from observing Piastri. This adaptability turned out to be crucial as Norris clawed his way back into contention for top positions.
Confronted with questions about the performance fluctuations in Shanghai, Norris couldn’t help but appreciate the dynamic within McLaren and Ferrari, with driver duos that push each other relentlessly to extract every ounce of capability from their cars.
“Besides Ferrari, I don’t think any other team has drivers pushing each other as hard as we do,” Norris remarked. “Having such an environment is a massive asset. Even if all teams have access to the same machinery, a pair of drivers who push each other can outshine any solitary star.”
He continued, highlighting the strength in collaboration: “Our team is fantastic, but our ability to push and learn from each other really sets us apart. It’s this mutual drive that gives us an edge over others, and we learn a lot from it.”
While comparing his driving style to that of Oscar Piastri’s, Norris admitted they often have differing preferences for the car setup. This discrepancy in styles was clear in Shanghai, where he found it tough to adjust to the early understeer issues he encountered during the first two days.
Piastri adapts to varying conditions more seamlessly, according to Norris: “Oscar impressively navigated the track’s demands, whereas I struggled, especially with the understeer. I dislike it almost as much as faulty brakes. But once we switched to Hards, and I got more front end response, my pace picked up.”
Reflecting on the weekend, Norris expressed how much he learned from Piastri’s adaptability: “This weekend helped us realize how much these differences could benefit our team. It’s giving us a significant advantage over others.”
Piastri shared similar sentiments, acknowledging the unique strengths and learning opportunities that come from racing alongside Norris. “We’ve got different skills, and at times, those differences favor one of us. In Shanghai, things fell my way. Just like I’ve had weekends where learning from Lando’s approach was crucial for me.”
“That’s the beauty of having strong teammates,” Piastri continued. “The learning never stops. You can’t quantify how much faster we get from pushing each other, but we do gain, no doubt.”
He concluded, “We continuously push and learn from one another. It’s been the case for the last couple of years, and whether learning flows one way or the other, every weekend brings new lessons.”
