As the 2025 F1 season intensifies ahead of the Canadian GP, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri remains focused not just on this year’s title fight but on building a long-lasting legacy with teammate Lando Norris. The Australian currently leads the Drivers’ Championship with five wins to his name, but despite the fierce intra-team battle, Piastri emphasised the importance of maintaining a strong partnership at McLaren—both now and in the future.
Rivalry with Perspective
Speaking ahead of the 2025 F1 Canadian GP in Montreal, Piastri acknowledged the competitive tension that naturally exists between teammates in the hunt for a world title. However, he stressed that their shared long-term goals at McLaren must take priority over any single season’s outcome.
“Clearly there’s competition and there’s a ‘want to beat each other on track’ mentality,” said Piastri. “But we’ve said before, we don’t want just one opportunity to try and win a world championship each.”
Piastri pointed to the long game, noting that the way he and Norris manage their relationship could shape their careers for years to come.
“We want this to be the case for many years to come,” he said, “and the best way to protect that is by having a very strong team around both of us. We’re aware that whatever happens in the championship this year—or how things go—is much bigger than just this season and potentially defines our whole career.”
A balanced approach
With the McLaren pair locked in a tight title battle—Norris just 10 points adrift of Piastri—the dynamic within the garage is under increasing scrutiny. But both drivers appear committed to keeping the fight clean and the team’s broader interests intact.
“We’re very aware of that fact,” Piastri added. “Of course, we still want to beat each other and win a world championship, but we know that there’s a bigger picture as well.”
The maturity shown by both Piastri and Norris has become a hallmark of McLaren’s 2025 campaign. Their ability to balance personal ambition with team harmony could prove critical as the season progresses—and as McLaren look to cement themselves as consistent title contenders in the years ahead.
