The Low-Down On the Continued Beef Between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are playing out a tale as McLaren itself.  A top team with no close rival with 2 elite drivers going blow for blow trying to win the world title. We’ve seen this at McLaren before with Senna and Prost then Alonso and Hamilton then Hamilton went on to beef with teammate and ex-best friend Rosberg at Mercedes. But is this duo destined to end up as badly as those pairings or can McLaren manage their way to peace this time? 

McLaren’s Team Oriented Mentality

Zac Brown and Andrea Stella have instilled a very team-oriented approach throughout all of McLaren including Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. With them in interviews always acknowledging that team harmony comes first even if they both want to beat each other badly. The incidents in 2024 like when Lando Norris in Hungary when he wasn’t sure to give Oscar Piastri back the position or when Piastri sent it on Lando in Monza didn’t deter McLaren’s team harmony then showing how strong this culture has proven to be.

2025 Is More Pressure

With the 2026 technical regulations coming up it’s unknown if McLaren will continue being the best team or be the best team by as large a margin as they are. Which could lead to both drivers focusing more on their chances to become world champion rather than team harmony.  After all to even make it to F1 you have to be 1 of the most competitive people on the planet it’s why rivalries between teammates are so common in this sport especially at the top team. Oscar Piastri is only in his third year if he wins the title it puts on a ton of pressure on veteran Lando Norris and a ton more doubt will be thrust upon him! 

There’s Already Been Incidents Between Them This Season

Most famously at Canada when the 2 McLaren drivers collided on lap 67 ending with Norris being parked in the grass Lando Norris climbing out of his car retired for the rest of the race. While Oscar Piastri drove on to lose to George Russel. Lando Norris avoided drama by taking the blame himself as he often does. Then Austria happened. The 2 teammates and title rivals had a intense wheel to wheel clash in the middle of the race. With Oscar Piastri’s aggressive dive into turn 4 on Lando Norris almost hitting the Brit and raising a few eyebrows at Mclaren.

Mclaren’s Favoritism

Zac Brown has gone on and on about how they are number 2 drivers at McLaren, but some people feel that his words don’t hold up to his actions. Most infamously saying this was the “Lando Norris era” when Oscar Piastri was right there winning races and leading the standings. And some think it showed its ugly head after Austria.

Using Piastri’s lock up to say that he was out of control and say he was the aggressor and went too far. Despite Norris’s rear ending of Piastri at Canada having 0 scrutiny from the team.  Partly due to Oscar Piastri suddenly battery loss being a overlooked reason for the crash and Stella even calling Canada “benign”.

Final Thoughts

So there’s no denying the difference in how the 2 incidents are being treated. 1 reason why is that Piastri did lose time because of how harsh the lock up was on the tires especially in the long run. But it’s been a narrative that’s been around for awhile and if it already is or starts to get in Piastri’s head. That could completely disrupt the team harmony McLaren has going right now. Thanks a bunch for reading!