McLaren had more than a whopping 30 seconds in Miami in the double victory last Sunday: In view of such dominant figures, the two Papaya racers should hardly be to be considered to be the opponents in the further course of the season, the teams do not change the rash.
Otherwise, Formula 1 should probably be the next World Cup duel between two teammates, in years with a superior car in the history of the premier class. Most recently, this was the case around a decade in the title fights of the two “silver enemies” Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, which dueled around the crown by all means between 2014 and 2016.
Interesting: When asked whether there could soon be a similar scenario at McLaren, the two protagonists react very differently after the race in Miami. Lando Norris is rather smawy, only says: “Time will show it.”
Piatri jokes and thinks of Hamilton vs. Alonso
Stable companion Oscar Piatri, however, tries to loosen up the situation with his dry humor, jokes: “Yes, we said that we were trying to repeat 2007.”
With this, Piatri refers to the first “war of the stars”, not that between Rosberg and Hamilton, but between Hamilton and Fernando Alonso: At McLaren-Mercedes, the two teammates took each other away, so that Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen finally benefited as a laughing third and won the title.
At the moment, this role would probably be defended by defending champion Max Verstappen, who was previously the only non-McLaren in Suzuka, and is also in the World Cup in the World Cup ranking. However, Piatri already has 32 points ahead – and of course, according to the Australian, McLaren does not intend to seriously get the competition again, especially not due to internal ruffles.
With a view to the most likely World Cup duel, that against Norris, Piastri finally says: “We both know exactly where our strengths are. It has always been close between us.” Accordingly, there will be “exciting” in the further course of the season: “There will be weekends when Lando is stronger, and weekends when I have the upper hand,” believes Piatri.
“Not only this unique opportunity”: Piatri thinks ahead
However, it is important not to lose a look for the big picture, because the 24 -year -old points out: “We are very aware that we want this success in the long term – as long as we are at McLaren, which will be a long time with both of us. And we are aware that it will come to a fight.”
Piatri makes it clear: “Of course we both want to be world champions. But we also don’t want this one unique opportunity – we want it for as many of the coming years as possible. And that is something that is important and easy to keep in mind for us and the entire team.”
Piatris opinion may even make it even more difficult that other laws apply than against a competing team in an internal title fight than against a competing team? “In some ways, in another no,” judges the World Cup leader: “We now know the driving style of the other pretty well. We know where our strengths are – and maybe also where our weaknesses are. So in this regard you have more information, but of course this applies to both sides.”
What Piatri likes in any case: “Since we have the same car, at least an uncertainty factor is eliminated. At the same time, it also brings other challenges, because you also have the same strengths and weaknesses on the track. And since overtaking is so difficult, you probably remain the front in nine out of ten cases that is at the front after the start,” predicts the McLaren pilot.
“That makes it complicated,” says Piatri, who also indicates “factors such as the pit strategies, which of course are very important within a team”. The leader in the World Cup ranking does not want to give a clear answer to the question of whether it is more difficult or easier against your own teammate: “There are simply advantages and disadvantages.”