Lando Norris said he “doesn’t expect anything different” following McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri’s encouraging start to his sophomore Formula 1 season in 2024.
Two races into the new campaign and heading into his home race, Piastri leads Norris in the Drivers’ standings, albeit by a slight margin of four points (16 points to 12.)
Norris classified sixth to Piastri’s eighth in Bahrain after the pair lined up seventh and eighth on the grid before Piastri finished fourth to Norris’ eighth in Saudi Arabia.
It’s clear at this early stage that Piastri is capable of being on par with Norris, but the senior figure within the McLaren set-up isn’t surprised by the Australian’s pace.
“Last year was already a very tough competition,” Norris began. “He’s obviously improved, because it’s his second year. He’s a bit more comfortable.
“He looked comfortable last year, but now he’s even more comfortable.
“He’s doing a strong job. He did since day one last year already, so I don’t expect anything different.
“He’s going to push me, I’m going to push him, and I look forward to our battles together.”
In his rookie campaign in 2023, Piastri picked up McLaren’s sole victory in race conditions with a triumph in the Qatar Sprint while also adding two grand prix podiums.
However, Norris outscored Piastri 205 points to 97 in the Drivers’ Championship as the Briton amassed seven top-three finishes to record his strongest F1 season to date.
Still, Norris is adamant that his team-mate has had the speed to help him learn how to become a better driver from the beginning of their partnership at the British outfit.
“I said since the first test we did last year, pre-season, that he’s been on the pace,” Norris added.
“As much as our comments and everything always align, and 99% of the time the same, he still drives in a slightly different way.
“Therefore, you always want a teammate where they can push you, and some corners they’ll be doing a different style, and it works, and you can learn about that and use that. S
“Sometimes my style, someone else’s style, might work somewhere else. If your teammate’s a good teammate, you’re always going to learn things from them.”
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