One of the most striking developments in recent Formula 1 races has been the surge of McLaren’s driver duo. Max Verstappen’s penalty in the Spanish Grand Prix caused him to lose crucial championship points, giving McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris a clear path to the top. But within the team, things might be far less harmonious than they appear.
Former Red Bull and Jaguar driver Christian Klien expressed admiration for young Australian Oscar Piastri, stating, “Let’s not forget, it’s only his third season, yet he’s incredibly composed and astonishingly fast. He learns quickly, and while Lando is a very quick driver, Piastri’s pressure is slowly breaking him down.”
F1 veteran David Coulthard emphasized Piastri’s mental toughness in an interview with Bild, saying, “Oscar doesn’t talk much—just like Raikkonen or Hakkinen—and that’s an asset. He combines calm with ruthless precision. Lando came out of last year’s title fight mentally stronger, but Oscar is bringing an entirely new level of pressure.” According to Coulthard, Verstappen realized in Saudi Arabia that he wasn’t just racing Norris anymore—he had a new rival in Oscar.
Meanwhile, Ralf Schumacher argued that McLaren’s current policy of equal treatment between drivers is not sustainable in a title fight. “Except for Monaco, Piastri has delivered top-level performances throughout. If Norris continues to trail and Verstappen maintains the pressure, McLaren will have to make a clear choice,” he said.
Schumacher believes that with the Constructors' Championship nearly secured, McLaren’s priority should now shift toward the Drivers’ Championship—and that focus, he insists, must center on the title contender, Oscar Piastri.