Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

McLaren: ‘Unique talent’ Piastri a ‘reference’ for Norris

by Taylor Powling
2 years ago
A A
McLaren: ‘Unique talent’ Piastri a ‘reference’ for Norris

Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren and Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren on the drivers' parade. 08.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Race Day.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has described Oscar Piastri as a “unique talent” in Formula 1 and believes he is an “absolute reference” for Lando Norris already.

Piastri was poached by McLaren away from Alpine midway through last year after the team made the decision to dispense with Daniel Ricciardo at the conclusion of 2022.

Despite taking the Woking side’s sole victory of the turbo-hybrid era at Monza 2021, Ricciardo was utterly thrashed by Norris, bringing an early end to his McLaren stint.

While Norris has largely had the upper hand over his new team-mate, Piastri has out-qualified Norris at the past two rounds and finished ahead in Qatar as McLaren secured a second consecutive double podium.

RelatedPosts

Isack Hadjar finished 10th in the Azerbaijan GP, but it was not a good race by his own standards

Isack Hadjar ‘pissed off’ with F1 Azerbaijan GP showing despite unique Red Bull achievement

18 minutes ago
Christian Horner could be back in an F1 paddock sooner than later

How Christian Horner is free to return to F1 soon as Red Bull exit details revealed

1 hour ago

The rookie also managed to pip Norris to the fastest time in the Sprint Shootout before recording his maiden F1 victory in the Sprint Race – a feat the Briton is yet to achieve.  

However, Stella has downplayed Piastri’s growing threat to Norris, underlining that not even a World Champion calibre driver should be expected to always beat their team-mate.

“In terms of picking up the challenge itself with Oscar, first of all, Lando knows himself, that Oscar is a unique talent,” Stella said. “You know, you don’t see these kinds of talents in Formula 1 every day.

“So it’s an absolute reference, even if he’s a rookie and at times Lando knows that he will be, he will set the bar very high. If you are a champion like Lando is, you will have to take that from a positive point of view because it gives you so much information to keep improving.

“There’s no champion in the world in any sport that wins everything, you know, is for a driver is faster in every corner, faster in every lap, faster in every session. Maybe Max [Verstappen] this year maybe, but that’s pretty exceptional.

“So for me, Lando sees this as a bit of discomfort but it’s the discomfort you need to become the best in a way. It is a curse and blessing to be a champion.”

Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren Lando Norris (GBR), McLaren F1 Team Max Verstappen (NLD), Red Bull Racing 08.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Race Day.

Norris was extremely critical of his performance across the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, admitting that he potentially threw away two pole positions and race victories.

He ended qualifying 10th after having both his Q3 lap times – good enough for second place – deleted for track limits. Norris would recover to third, only 6s behind race winner Verstappen, who started from pole.

In between, Norris would rue a costly mistake on his final flying run in the Shootout which enabled Piastri to usurp him for top spot. Norris’ demotion to the dirty side of the grid witnessed him get away sluggishly in the Sprint, while Piastri nailed the start to resist late-race pressure from Verstappen.

Stella has praised Norris’ ability to reflect on his own performances, particularly when he has made a mistake or come up short.

“Lando is, you know, such an honest person and I think even he perpetuates dishonesty in every kind of relationship, including the one with himself,” he noted.

“I think he wants to make sure that if he gets it wrong, he gets it from the holistic point of view, you know like he doesn’t want to look arrogant, he doesn’t want to look like I’m not acknowledging that I could’ve done better. So I make it very clear.”

Although Stella believes Norris was overly critical regarding his mishaps, the Italian asserts both drivers’ development away from the race track is as important as on it.

“But at the same time, like I said before about champions, you need to find the right balance and you need to find the right dynamics in terms of communication to the world, in terms of communication to yourself, to put yourself in the position to perform today and in the position to keep improving every day,” he explained.

“So I think given how harsh he was on himself, following especially the qualifying on Friday would be an element of review. And this review will happen again, very honestly.

“And he will calibrate over time to see how tough do I really have to be with myself. Like what is the target here? To be faster in every single corner, in every single lap, in every single session, or just be the best which doesn’t imply all the rest.

“So, I mean, there’s a bit of a journey which is for Lando, it will be for Oscar and it’s for each of us in the team.”

Tags: F1Lando NorrisMcLarenOscar PiastriStella
Share202Tweet127Share

Related Posts

Isack Hadjar finished 10th in the Azerbaijan GP, but it was not a good race by his own standards
Formula 1

Isack Hadjar ‘pissed off’ with F1 Azerbaijan GP showing despite unique Red Bull achievement

18 minutes ago
Christian Horner could be back in an F1 paddock sooner than later
Formula 1

How Christian Horner is free to return to F1 soon as Red Bull exit details revealed

1 hour ago
Fernando Alonso is concerned with Aston Martin's performance in the final seven F1 races of 2025
Formula 1

Fernando Alonso makes Aston Martin admission ahead of remaining 2025 F1 races

4 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October
21São Paulo GP07-09 November
22Las Vegas GP20-22 November

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri324
Lando Norris299
Max Verstappen255
George Russell212
Charles Leclerc165
Lewis Hamilton121
Andrea Kimi Antonelli78
Alexander Albon70
Isack Hadjar39
Nico Hulkenberg37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Isack Hadjar finished 10th in the Azerbaijan GP, but it was not a good race by his own standards
Formula 1

Isack Hadjar ‘pissed off’ with F1 Azerbaijan GP showing despite unique Red Bull achievement

September 23, 2025
Christian Horner could be back in an F1 paddock sooner than later
Formula 1

How Christian Horner is free to return to F1 soon as Red Bull exit details revealed

September 23, 2025
Fernando Alonso is concerned with Aston Martin's performance in the final seven F1 races of 2025
Formula 1

Fernando Alonso makes Aston Martin admission ahead of remaining 2025 F1 races

September 23, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd