Oscar Piastri has revealed that his robust relationship with McLaren F1 teammate Lando Norris has not been affected by the extreme battle for the title.
Heading into this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, Piastri has a 24-point lead over his teammate.
Piastri was within the driver’s seat for the title race after Zandvoort, main Norris by 34 factors.
Nevertheless, since then, Piastri has solely completed on the rostrum as soon as.
Inevitably, there have been some flashpoints between the 2 all through the season.
Norris rear-ended Piastri on the Canadian Grand Prix, and Norris took full duty for the collision.
Norris’ aggressive overtaking in Singapore additionally irritated Piastri, resulting in repercussions that have been later withdrawn by McLaren.
Piastri, who has been open about his relationship with Norris, mentioned on the Past the Grid podcast:
“Actually, it’s higher that manner. It’s our third 12 months collectively as teammates, so we all know one another higher, so we have been capable of slowly get to know one another extra.
“There could also be non permanent feelings off the observe, however I feel we’re each superb at letting issues settle down and leaving them on the observe once more.”
McLaren’s “Papaya Rule”
McLaren’s guidelines of engagement have come below intense scrutiny all year long.
Following Norris’ stable transfer in Singapore, Piastri felt he wanted to reverse positions to maintain it honest, particularly since McLaren had earlier compelled Piastri to move Norris after Norris’ gradual pit cease.
However total, Piastri believes McLaren deserves credit score for letting them race in opposition to one another.
“Really, I do not suppose it is that tough. That is the best way we have all the time operated,” Piastri defined.
“If that is the default, finally we will must do one thing completely different to ensure we’re not treating one another as equals, and that is going to be more durable in some methods.
“The workforce has finished pretty much as good a job as we will to attempt to be honest and deal with one another equally.
“This 12 months we had the liberty to race, so it was good to have the ability to do it as a lot as we may, and I feel it was good for everybody watching.”
“I feel it is clearly tough to race along with your teammates, and clearly, rather a lot has occurred this 12 months. We have been collectively a couple of instances.”
