Oscar Piastri fought an internal title battle with Lando Norris in 2025. The Briton came out on top, but not before rumors circulated that McLaren favored Norris. Piastri, however, maintained confidence in both himself and his team, and now also mocks the media’s portrayal of the rivalry with his teammate: ‘There were a few difficult moments, but it wasn’t some kind of Third World War as it was portrayed’.
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In 2025, the McLaren drivers provided the first internal title battle since the ‘Silver War’ at Mercedes between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri still had a chance at the title during the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, but it was the Briton who came out on top. The internal battle, and McLaren’s attempt to keep it as equal as possible, also led to some notable moments during the season. For instance, Piastri was told via team orders in Monza that he had to give up his second place to Norris, following a slow pit stop by the latter.
As a result, the Australian was also occasionally faced with the question of whether McLaren favored Norris. In a new interview with Quad Lock, he further explains the role of the media within Formula 1. “The media play a huge role in F1, whether you like it or not,” Piastri says. “There have certainly been tough questions, tough interviews and difficult moments.”
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‘Wasn’t a Third World War’
“For me, it’s quite simple to distinguish between the story the media is trying to sell and what is actually happening,” the McLaren driver continues. “There have been a few difficult moments behind closed doors this year – but it wasn’t as catastrophic or some kind of Third World War as some media like to portray it.”
According to Piastri, difficult conversations within a team are inevitable, but he has found a good way to deal with them. “It’s something everyone finds difficult. That’s why it’s very important to represent the team and somehow find a balance between your own interests and those of the team. You’d rather keep many of those tough conversations private.”
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