Oscar Piastri has announced that McLaren’s top priority is the F1 Constructors’ Championship, rather than facilitating Lando Norris’s pursuit of Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. Currently, McLaren trails Red Bull by 42 points in the constructors’ standings but has demonstrated improved performance with a stronger car over the past three months since Norris’s first F1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
Piastri’s impressive second-place finish at the Belgian GP marked McLaren’s 10th consecutive podium appearance. As the season resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix from August 23-25, Norris sits 78 points behind championship leader Verstappen with only 10 races remaining.
“The primary objective is to secure the constructors’ title for the team, and I believe we have a strong chance of achieving that,” Piastri stated. “We’ve significantly closed the gap to Red Bull in the last several races. Personally, I aim to finish as high as possible in the drivers’ standings. While it’s a challenge, I’m committed to delivering consistent performances to support the team’s constructors’ ambitions.”
He added that if a situation arises where he needs to support Norris later in the season, it will be a topic for discussion, but emphasized that the team’s focus remains on winning the constructors’ title while advancing his own performance.
At the beginning of the season, McLaren was not anticipated to contend for the title, especially as Red Bull claimed one-two finishes in three of the first four races. However, Piastri’s victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix has placed McLaren in a favorable position moving forward.
“We had a competitive car in certain circuits last year, but now we demonstrate speed across all types of tracks, which has been a confidence booster for everyone,” Piastri elaborated. “This year, we can consistently perform near the top, and this sets us up well for the future.”
Piastri is focused on gaining experience and achieving success in his second year in Formula 1, while also aiming to create a solid foundation for the next season.
Norris, who secured second in Budapest after relinquishing the lead to Piastri, expressed confidence in the team’s performance. “We are in a very good place, trusting and working together, which I believe is our strength,” he said. “We are performing among the best teams in F1, and I’m proud of our progress.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown emphasized the importance of both drivers performing well to enhance their constructors’ title bid. “It’s crucial that we have both drivers in the top positions, as it reflects directly on our constructors’ standings,” he stated. “We are striving to compete for both championships, and the results thus far have been impressive.”
Formula 1 will return after the summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix, promising an exciting continuation of the season as teams strive for championship glory.
