Formula 1 experienced an intense internal battle at McLaren in 2025, but Oscar Piastri assures that, off the car, nothing broke between him and Lando Norris. According to the Australian, the fight for the title was tough on the track, but the coexistence and respect remained exactly as before.
Read more F1: What time and where to watch the Miami GP 2026 practice sessions?
With the team dominating much of the season, the drivers’ championship turned into a direct duel between the two, with Max Verstappen entering the fight stronger in the final part of the year. McLaren adopted the stance of allowing the battle, as long as there was no contact between the cars, and Norris ended up winning the first title of his career in Abu Dhabi, with Verstappen second and Piastri third.
In a participation on the High Performance podcast, Piastri said that the relationship did not change, despite many people doubting it. “Honestly, I don’t think it changed. And I know that is hard to believe for many people,” he said, explaining that he and Norris can separate what happens “on the track” from what stays “off the track.”
The driver stated that even joint commitments, such as marketing actions, continued in the same atmosphere. “Our marketing days together, for example, were exactly the same,” he reported, adding that, in his view, the relationship even improved at the end of the year, when they got to know each other more and spent even more time closely together.
Read more F1 today: FIA acts in Miami and Ferrari brings updates
Piastri also highlighted that both were clear that only one could win, but without turning it into a personal problem. “We knew the situation we were in, trying to beat each other. But it never got unpleasant,” he said, recalling that preserving the team dynamic was fundamental for the future.
He acknowledged that there were moments of closeness and incidents, but denied any kind of “game” or deliberate attitude to harm the teammate. “Even when we had problems, they were never intentional,” he concluded, saying that the team also demanded responsibility and helped maintain a healthy environment.
Read more Check out the schedule and where to watch the Miami round of F2
