Piastri – Norris, a Hamilton-Rosberg destiny?

Remember, in 2016. The Formula 1 is only in its third year in the hybrid era, an era ultra-dominated by Mercedes and by its two pilots, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Between them, the two teammates won 51 of the 59 Grands Prix contested between 2014 and 2016 and shared the three available titles, with two for the Briton and one for the German. This exceptional supremacy was not without consequences for the relationship between the two partners and which, for three years, caused many moments of tension within the German team.

Former best friends, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg became arch-enemies in F1, under pressure and the stakes for the world title. For three seasons, the two Mercedes drivers clashed, both on and off the track, with moments that have become iconic, such as the first-lap crash at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. A rivalry that has gone down in Formula 1 history for its intensity and drama. Nine years later, we find two teammates once again leading the Constructors' Championship, both fiercely determined to win their first world title.

After six Grand Prix, Oscar piastri et Lando Norris dominate the 2025 championship, with four wins for the former and one for the latter. In the Drivers' standings, the two drivers McLaren are holding the top two places with 131 points for Oscar Piastri and 115 points for Lando Norris. And while, for the moment, everything is going well between the two teammates with a cordial understanding, in the Formula 1 paddock, the worst is already expected. Zak Brown himself predicts a collision " inevitable " between its two pilots. "We have two racing drivers, it doesn't matter if they're part of the same team or not, they'll be side by side for 24 Grands Prix, and one of them will end up locking his brakes...", had confided the CEO of McLaren Racing end of April.

Norris and Piastri not very concerned

So, can we fear a similar fate to that of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? What will happen when the two drivers collide for the first time, if it ever happens? Could McLaren face the same situation as Mercedes at the start of the hybrid era? For the British team's two young drivers, for now, there is no cause for concern. "Only time will tell.", philosopher Lando Norris when asked, at a press conference in Miami, if a Hamilton-Rosberg scenario is possible between him and his Australian teammate.

Oscar Piastri, for his part, prefers to approach the subject with a little irony. "Yes, we have already said that we are trying to repeat [the season] 2007 (with the rivalry between Alonso and Hamilton at McLaren, Ed.), so… I don’t know, the championship leader is amusedWe clearly know we have our strengths. We've always been close to each other. It's going to be a great battle. There will be weekends when Lando is stronger, and weekends when I'm stronger. We're very aware that we want to be successful for as long as we're at McLaren, which is a very long time for both of us. We're aware that there will be a fight. We both want to become world champions, but we don't want to settle for just one opportunity to succeed. We want it for years to come, and that's an important thing to keep in mind.

Unlike Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri weren't on friendly terms before joining forces at McLaren in 2023, which takes away any romantic flair from their budding rivalry. The British team's two drivers have quite different temperaments, as do their driving styles in the MCL39. A stylistic contrast that could either create sparks or cause a fire in the McLaren house. And while the Woking team is already preparing for the impact of a collision between its two drivers, it will also have to manage each other's egos and desires in more complex situations, particularly regarding team orders.

The Mercedes example, a case to avoid

At the time, Mercedes had decided to let its two drivers fight for the championship, so impressive was their lead in the Constructors' Championship. The friendly relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg quickly deteriorated in 2014: as early as the sixth Grand Prix of the season, in Monaco, the "breakup" was made public by the Briton after the German's victory in the streets of the Principality. The two teammates then worked separately, cutting off all personal and professional relations, contenting themselves solely with fulfilling sporting and media obligations at Mercedes. So, is it more difficult, psychologically and sportingly, to fight against your teammate for the championship?

"In a way, yes and no, answers Oscar PiastriWe know pretty much exactly how the other driver performs. We know our strengths, and maybe some of our weaknesses. So from that perspective, you have more information, but it goes both ways. We both know we have the same car, so that eliminates one factor, but having the same car brings other complications. You can have the same strengths and weaknesses on the track. Given how difficult it is to follow cars, 9 times out of 10, whoever is in front at the start will probably be in front at the finish. Then there are the strategies and everything that comes into play when you're on the same team. There are positives and negatives. It remains to be seen how each party will react when the two drivers meet on the track. See you at the first meeting.

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