Oscar Piastri has moved to cool speculation about internal discord at McLaren, insisting the team is “very aligned” in its approach to racing as the Formula 1 title fight between him and teammate Lando Norris heats up.
The Australian leads Norris by 31 points heading into this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. His comments follow a highly scrutinized moment during the Italian Grand Prix, where team orders saw Piastri asked to give up second place to Norris after a pit-stop issue compromised the Briton’s race.
The incident sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits, raising questions about McLaren’s handling of its two title contenders. However, Piastri emphasized that the team has since clarified its stance and that both drivers are aligned on how to approach future battles.
“A highly talked about moment. We’ve clarified a lot of things, and we know how we’re going to go racing moving forward,” Piastri said. “What’s happened is done. We’ve had a lot of discussions about how we want to go racing and a lot of that is to stay for us.”
The 23-year-old added that keeping strategy discussions private is critical for maintaining a competitive edge. “If we give out that info, we become very easy targets to pick off because everyone knows what we’re going to do. It is all very aligned but it stays in-house.”
McLaren’s handling of the Italian Grand Prix highlighted the challenges teams face when both drivers are in contention for the championship. Historically, Formula 1 has seen rivalries between teammates spiral out of control, as with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna at McLaren in the 1980s, or Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes a decade ago.
But Piastri appears determined to avoid similar tensions derailing McLaren’s campaign. “I trust the team,” he said firmly. “We’ve talked a lot about it, and I’m confident we’ll manage the situation well.”
For McLaren, the situation represents both an opportunity and a challenge. After years of rebuilding, the Woking-based outfit is once again fighting at the sharp end of the grid. Balancing the interests of two highly competitive drivers will be key if they hope to secure their first drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in 2008.
Lando Norris, who has long been McLaren’s leading figure, is equally hungry for success, while Piastri’s rapid rise has established him as one of the sport’s most promising young talents. The upcoming races, starting with Baku, could prove decisive in determining how McLaren manages its internal dynamics.
For now, the team seems intent on presenting a united front. Piastri’s words suggest that, despite the spotlight and speculation, both he and Norris remain committed to McLaren’s collective goals, even as they chase individual glory.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, known for its unpredictable nature and tight street layout, may provide the perfect stage to test whether McLaren’s unity can withstand the pressures of a title fight.
