Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg sees difficult times at McLaren for top talent Oscar Piastri. The reason: Piastri’s future teammate Lando Norris.
“Lando is world class, he has World Cup potential,” Rosberg told “Sky Sports”. Norris is currently performing “like a world champion, he drives incredibly well,” said the 2016 Formula 1 champion.
That’s why Daniel Ricciardo, who has to vacate his cockpit for Piastri for the 2023 season, didn’t work at McLaren either. “Ricciardo is a multiple race winner, one of the best drivers in the world. And he had an incredibly difficult time against Lando,” said Rosberg.
Norris had collected 45 points more Ricciardo in 2021. In 2022, the 22-year-old is already 69 points ahead of his neighbor, eleven years his senior.
Formula 1 at McLaren “a huge challenge” for Oscar Piastri
The same fate could befall Piastri in a duel with Norris, Rosberg fears. The 21-year-old Australian, who is about to start his rookie season in the premier class, is “completely new to the sport”.
Rosberg added, “I think it’s going to be a huge challenge for Oscar to get close to Lando next year.”
The move to McLaren is “brave,” said Rosberg. “Either he beats Lando or he’s out of the sport. It’s very, very tough.”
McLaren a tempting opportunity for Oscar Piastri, according to Nico Rosberg
However, Rosberg also praised Piastri’s self-confidence: “He believes in himself. And if you think you’re good enough, you have to try. Opportunities like this don’t come often, so he did everything right.”
Piastri had rejected his Alpine training team, which would also have liked to promote him to regular driver status.
According to the Contract Recognition Board (CRB), there was no valid contract between the youngster and the French, so the path to McLaren was clear.
“His career so far has been impressive and we are convinced that together with Lando he can help us to get one step closer to our ambitions,” team boss Andreas Seidl commented on the commitment.