– McLaren driver Lando Norris admits: His teammate Oscar Piastri has pushed him “more than I like.” He attributes a key role to the tough internal team rivalry in his ongoing development as a Formula 1 driver.
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At an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month, the Brit looked back on his Formula 1 career. After debuting at McLaren alongside Carlos Sainz and then partnering with Daniel Ricciardo, Norris is now in his third consecutive season alongside Piastri.
“From Carlos in my first few years, Daniel in my second phase, and now Oscar, you learn the most from these guys. And I have also simply enjoyed spending time with all of them because they are fantastic people,” explained the 2025 world champion.
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“Being with Carlos, being with Daniel – I enjoyed those years so much, and now of course the past three with Oscar. He has driven me incredibly, more than I like.”
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“But that is exactly what you need in Formula 1; that is what you want. It has made me a much better driver, especially last year. Rivalry is the key to becoming a better person at the same time.”
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The 2025 season offered an intense battle between the two McLaren teammates, as each fought for their first driver title. In the second half of the season, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen launched an impressive comeback that threatened both Norris and Piastri.
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The fight peaked at the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and in the end, it was Norris who secured the title. He finished two points ahead of runner-up Verstappen, while Piastri came third.
To the team’s dismay from Woking, McLaren could not carry its 2025 form into the 2026 season. Norris recently won the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing the first Grand Prix victory of the year for both himself and the team. Before the summer break, Norris is fifth in the overall standings with 128 points, Piastri is seventh with 92 points. Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 219 points.
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