As the 2025 Formula 1 season hurtles toward its climax, McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris find themselves locked in a gripping title fight separated by just 24 points heading into the final three races. Despite the intense rivalry on track, Piastri insists their off-track relationship has only grown stronger.
Many anticipated that the pressure of battling within the same team would strain the young drivers’ friendship, especially with significant regulation changes promising to reshape the sport in the coming years. This championship clash could very well be their only shot at F1 glory together.
Piastri set the pace early on, dominating the first half of the season with five wins from nine races. He extended his lead further with victories at Spa and Zandvoort, building a commanding 34-point advantage. However, Norris responded with a surge of his own, outperforming Piastri over the past six Grand Prix weekends to overturn the deficit and take a 24-point lead going into the final stretch.
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Despite this fierce competition, Piastri shared on the Beyond the Grid podcast that their relationship remains positive and maybe even better than before. “We just know each other more now. This is our third year as teammates, so we’re getting to understand each other better,” he said. “What happens on track stays on track. We’re both good at letting things die down and not carrying emotions off the track.”
Both drivers continue to push McLaren forward, often seeking slightly different car setups to maximize their individual strengths. Yet, Piastri emphasized their shared goals: “We want broadly similar things from the team and the car. We’ve just figured out our subtle preferences and how to work with them.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has also pledged that whichever driver ultimately misses out on the title in Abu Dhabi, the team will maintain a respectful and united front. With their mutual respect and camaraderie intact, Piastri and Norris are proving that even under immense pressure, true sportsmanship and friendship can thrive.