Oscar Piastri has expressed that he hopes he and Lando Norris can continue to abide by McLaren’s “values” in Formula 1 should the two be involved in a title battle in 2025.
McLaren’s mid-season surge last season, coupled with Red Bull’s demise, propelled the side into a position where multiple wins and the championship were both attained.
However, that heightened the internal competition between them, culminating in Piastri’s brash move on Norris on the first lap at Monza costing it a potential 1-2 finish.
That proved a hindrance to Norris’ bid to reel in Max Verstappen’s points lead, the Briton having utilised the ever-improving MCL38 to become McLaren’s leading hope.
Piastri’s aggressive pass prompted team orders to be introduced to support Norris, who was handed the win in the Sao Paulo Sprint race as his team-mate moved aside.
But with his title dream dead and buried with two rounds to go, Norris overruled a team call to maintain position to return the favour to the Australian in the Qatar Sprint.
Piastri has contended that the duo’s willingness to prioritise McLaren above their individual interests is an asset that should be preserved even with a title in the equation.
Asked how important it was to uphold that mindset going into a new season with the scores reset, Piastri told media including Motorsport Week: “Yeah, I would like to think that part of the reason why we’re in such a strong position now going into the season is partly down to the teamwork that we’ve had together.
“Obviously between us and the whole team, but just us two as team-mates. I think hopefully we’ve set a very good example for everyone in the team.
“Of course we’re fighting each other hard on our own personal success. But we’re doing that in a way that’s helping the team and helping each other.
“And I think that’s an incredibly important message to keep strong and a strong value to keep racing by.
“Of course we’re both going into the season with our eyes on winning the Drivers’ Championship. But we’ve also got our eyes on the Constructors’ Championship for the team. So that’s not going to change.
“I think again the last two seasons we’ve proven many a time that we’re very respectful of each other and have a lot of respect for each other and do the right thing by each other and the team. And I think that has played certainly not an insignificant part in our success.”
McLaren drivers free to race in 2025
McLaren revealed that Norris and Piastri will begin the upcoming campaign on equal terms, with both drivers having voiced their desire to become World Champion in 2025.
Piastri has established that will be the case, provided that he and Norris continue to race each other without clashes to the detriment of the Woking-based squad’s prospects.
“I think in terms of managing myself and Lando, obviously our target as a team and as drivers is to have every weekend be an easy 1-2 and make sure that we then fight for that,” he said.
“Of course we’re going to be racing each other from the start. We’re all starting on zero. I want to win the World Championship this year and hopefully we have a car that’s capable of doing that from the start.
“Of course everyone is going to have that mentality, you have to, but we are going to be able to race each other and we’ve shown time and time again that we can race each other hard but cleanly and as long as we’re not taking points off of the team, then that’s how we’re going to go racing.”
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