As McLaren continues its competitive rise in Formula 1, a stark warning has been issued by former F1 designer Gary Anderson regarding the team’s driver pairing. While praising McLaren’s management, Anderson believes that an on-track clash between the fiercely competitive Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is not a matter of if, but when.
This analysis delves into the high-stakes dynamic at McLaren, exploring the driver mentalities, the looming threat of team politics, and the one chance the team has to manage a potentially explosive rivalry.
A Matter of Time: The Inevitable On-Track Clash
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have engaged in several close and thrilling battles as teammates, earning praise for keeping their racing clean. However, veteran designer Gary Anderson holds little hope that this respectful racing will last forever, especially as the stakes get higher.
“Norris and Piastri have so far kept it clean in their battles, but as history tells us it’s usually only a matter of time before team-mates fighting for the world championship come to blows,” Anderson wrote for The Race. “Incidents and accidents will always happen and I am sure they will have a coming together at some point. You simply can’t race that close to each other for so long for that not to happen.”
Driver Mentality: Piastri’s “Killer Instinct” vs. Norris’s Frustration
According to Anderson, the psychological makeup of the two drivers plays a crucial role in the dynamic. He observes a key difference in how they handle pressure, suggesting Piastri may have a calmer, more resilient mindset.
“At McLaren, I would say Piastri is more at ease with the situation. He is very laid back about it all, but inside there is the killer instinct that you need to have if you are to be successful in F1,” Anderson explained. “As for Norris, he seems to get a bit more flustered when things don’t pan out as planned. He has allowed small mistakes that might have lost him one position to turn into a much bigger problem.”
Off-Track Tensions: The Subtle Art of Team Politics
The catalyst for a rivalry doesn’t always happen on the track. Anderson notes that perceived favoritism within the team can be just as damaging. “There’s also little things like who does the management prioritise when they speak to the drivers? If it gets too blatantly obvious then the drivers notice it and react to it.”
This is where Oscar Piastri has a unique advantage: his manager, former F1 driver Mark Webber. Webber famously endured a challenging partnership with Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull, marred by collisions and the infamous ‘Multi-21’ team orders debacle. Anderson believes this background is a major asset, as Webber can preemptively protect Piastri from similar internal political pitfalls.
McLaren’s High-Stakes Balancing Act
With the potential for conflict looming, the responsibility falls squarely on McLaren’s management. Anderson applauds Team Principal Andrea Stella’s policy of radical transparency, referencing an incident where Norris’s attempt to get a tow was immediately brought into the open and discussed.
“I agree 100% with Stella’s comments on the subject: bring everything out into the open and hold nothing back,” Anderson stated, endorsing the team’s direct approach. However, he concluded with a stern warning for the Woking-based team, emphasizing the fragile nature of their situation.
“It just needs to remember that you don’t always get a second chance.”
