Lando Norris expresses confidence that he and McLaren can handle the pressure of competing for the world championship with his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Piastri secured his second win of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading to McLaren’s first one-two finish of the year, finishing ahead of Norris.
Following his victory in the season-opener in Melbourne, where Piastri placed ninth, he now trails Norris by just 10 points in the championship standings.
Norris stated, “We were free to race. We’re both excited — and likely a bit nervous — as the team will be too. But we’re prepared.”
He underlined the commitment from both drivers to handle their competition respectfully, adhering to McLaren’s ethos of allowing drivers to race while prioritizing the team’s interests. Norris said, “While we enjoy working together, we both aim to show who’s the best, and that’s natural.”
After both drivers claimed a win and a pole position, McLaren is currently leading the field early in the season. Team principal Andrea Stella dismissed remarks made by Mercedes driver George Russell, who finished third in China, about the team potentially winning every race this year, calling them “distractions.”
Currently, Piastri ranks fourth in the championship, sandwiched between Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. McLaren acknowledges that the competition between Norris and Piastri could evolve into a title race this season, regardless of external competition. Their philosophy emphasizes fairness, allowing drivers to race without compromising each other’s vehicles or team interests.
