McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has dismissed rumours that he and teammate Lando Norris are experiencing tension and that their relationship is strained following Piastri’s victory at the Hungarian GP last weekend.
Piastri confirmed he and Norris took the time to eat and play together during their post-race discussion at the Hungaroring.
“We haven’t spoken much about the race. But the relationship is still good, everything is still good and there is still a lot of respect between us, and that goes both ways,” Piastri said ahead of the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps.
Piastri’s victory in Hungary was the first for the 22-year-old Australian rider.
AFP/Jim WATSON—McLaren driver Lando Norris
There is talk that Piastri achieved the feat because Norris was given instructions by the team to slow down and ‘give’ the win to his teammate.
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Piastri then said that McLaren has rules for interaction when two drivers are fighting for position during a race.
“There is an expectation that we will race hard, but also be fair and never touch,” Piastri said.
“We always remember that certain strategic decisions, such as the timing of the second pit-stop, were made with the team’s ambitions in mind,” he added.
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Asked if he would do the same and give his teammate a place, Piastri clarified the question.
“I would also think selfishly, but we race for McLaren knowing that certain decisions are made with the team in mind and ultimately we race for the team,” Piastri said.
On the prospect of working in Norris’ favour at the end of the season if he has a chance of winning the drivers’ title, Piastri accepts such a scenario is possible.
“Yes, I know that’s a possibility,” he said.
“Of course, I want to try and improve my skills, but in the end I drive for McLaren and they decide,” Piastri concluded. (Ant/Z-1)
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