Towards a Norris-Piastri duel for the title? "We are nervous and excited at the same time"

After two matches, there is currently a draw between Lando Norris et Oscar piastri. The two pilots McLaren have each achieved a victory in the first two meetings of the season, with the Briton's success in Melbourne and the Australian's response in Shanghai on Sunday. In points, the advantage goes to the Englishman who, thanks to his double podium, leads the championship with 44 points, against 34 units for the Aussie. The duel that we were expecting during the off-season is indeed taking place and for the moment, it is a cordial understanding between the two teammates, aware that they now have the cards (and the weapons) in hand to play for the world title in 2025.

Like a feeling of déjà vu?

In China as in Australia, the McLaren MCL39 was above the rest and in Shanghai, the two drivers of the British team were able to extract all the potential of their car to go and achieve their first double of the season… and surely not the last, as the car in papaya and black colors seems untouchable and irreproachable at the start of the championship. A McLaren domination that we have not seen since the end of the 2000s and the Hamilton era. Moreover, the start of the duel between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is reminiscent of that between Lewis Hamilton et Fernando Alonso, 18 years ago.

In a tense context, at the end of a 2007 season marked by Spygate and the controversy of the Hungarian Grand Prix (Alonso had deliberately blocked Hamilton in the pits), the Briton and the Spaniard finished tied on points... one point behind the champion, Kimi Räikkönen. "I wasn't looking at the Formula 1 [in 2007]. Oh yeah, with Lewis [Hamilton] and Fernando [Alonso]! Just wait until [Piastri] makes a pit stop behind me and I won't go! Or we'll have a 'multi-22' or something like that, Lando Norris joked at a press conference in Shanghai, recalling this bitter duel between the two champions which marked the history of the discipline and the Woking team.

"No, I think we are [ready], he continued in a more serious toneWe were free to race today. I didn't have the pace to get close to Oscar, and he drove very well, he deserves [his victory]. It was the same last weekend. Yes, there were those two laps that everyone talked about, where we maintained our positions, but the rest of the time we were free to race. So I'm sure we'll have closer races at some point."

McLaren above the drivers

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri now appear to be on par with each other in both the race and qualifying. The Australian has improved his flying lap performance since last year, and his first F1 pole position, secured on Saturday in China, shows he's now capable of performing as well, if not better, than his teammate in qualifying. While Lando Norris may have a bit more pace, he also makes more mistakes than Oscar Piastri, which cost him pole position in Shanghai. If this trend continues throughout the season, and the two McLaren drivers battle it out weekend after weekend, we could be in for an epic championship duel.

"I think we're both excited—probably nervous and excited at the same time—as the team certainly will be. But we're ready, assured Lando Norris in the face of the possibility of a duel with Oscar Piastri for the title. Even though we work together, have a good time, and have fun, we both know we want to try to beat each other and prove who's the best. And that's inevitable. So there's no point in trying to hide it or make a big deal out of it.

However, the Briton indicated that the team remains above egos and personal ambitions and affirmed that the Constructors' title is the primary objective. Lando Norris used the example of 2024 to remind us that nothing is set in stone regarding the hierarchy and favorites in 2025. "I think we both got something better this weekend because of that help and we will continue to do so. Like Oscar said, at any time, other teams can find something, highlighted the winner of the Australian Grand PrixThey can catch up with us faster than you think, like we did last year. We also have to think as a team and keep moving the team forward in that regard." It remains to be seen whether the good professional relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will endure over time or crumble in the face of challenges. History has often shown us that the latter option prevails...

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