McLaren sets clear racing boundaries for Norris and Piastri in F1 battle
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been given clear guidelines about racing each other following McLaren's strong qualifying performance at the Australian Grand Prix, where they locked out the front row ahead of Max Verstappen.
Two F1 drivers in racing suits
Both drivers are free to race each other, but with specific boundaries in place to ensure team interests remain paramount. Norris emphasized that while they're both competitors eager for victory, maintaining both cars in the race is a priority, with slightly more space given when racing each other compared to other competitors.
"What won us the constructors' last year was how we helped one another out, how we kept things clean," Norris explained, highlighting the importance of teamwork in their success.
Piastri, hoping to become the first Australian to win his home grand prix, confirmed their freedom to race while acknowledging the fundamental rule of avoiding contact and giving each other space. He stressed that their collaborative approach was key to McLaren's constructors' championship victory last year.
Team principal Andrea Stella revealed that rather than implementing specific rules, McLaren has developed general principles following their experiences from the previous season. "We need to rely on the team and the drivers always remembering that the interest of the team is above each of us," Stella stated, referencing lessons learned from incidents like Monza last year.
The team's approach combines clear boundaries with driver freedom, ensuring competitive racing while protecting team interests - a strategy that proved successful in their 2024 championship campaign.