Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri re-engage the McLaren teammate’s battle for the F1 drivers’ title at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday with the pair having a win each.
Suzuka welcomes the travelling circus of Formula 1 back this weekend to also begin the first triple-header of the season. McLaren dominated across the double-header to kick the term off, with Norris winning from pole in Australia and Piastri turning pole into a victory in China.
Glory in Melbourne further saw Norris lead the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time in the 25-year-old’s career. The Briton tips reigning champion Max Verstappen by eight points before the Japanese GP, too, with Piastri just fourth following his spin from P2 in Melbourne.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are creating an ‘uneasy’ dynamic at McLaren fighting for the F1 title
Only 10 points separate the McLaren teammates in the drivers’ standings, and Norris admits he is ‘nervous’ about his ‘inevitable’ close fights with Piastri with a maiden crown on the line for the pair. But the unavoidability of their battles is impacting the situation at McLaren, too.
Speaking in the pre-race Thursday press conference ahead of the Japanese GP, Norris has also now conceded that there is ‘not an easy dynamic’ at McLaren with both of their drivers striving to beat the other. He also believes it is difficult for McLaren to find the right balance.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
| Category | Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri |
| 2025 points | 44 | 34 |
| Grand Prix results | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Prix qualifying | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Prix wins | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Prix poles | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Prix podiums | 2 | 1 |
| Best finish | 1st | 1st |
| Retirements | 0 | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 2 | 0 |
| Grand Prix points finishes | 2 | 2 |
| Sprint results | 0 | 1 |
| Sprint Qualifying | 0 | 1 |
| Sprint wins | 0 | 0 |
| Sprint poles | 0 | 0 |
| Sprint podiums | 0 | 1 |
“It’s our first time that we are really going head-to-head and I’m sure there is going to be a lot more instances where we’re battling or racing against each other,” Norris said.
“It’s round three now, we’ve only done two races. Many things can happen and I’m sure there are going to be plenty of trickier or tougher times. But, like I said last week, we acknowledge this.
“We both know we’re ready for these kind of situations. We want to beat each other but we’re also teammates, so it’s not an easy dynamic. It’s never easy to get the balances perfect but we’re working hard as a team to make sure that we do.”
Lando Norris’ uneasy McLaren dynamic admission will be music to Max Verstappen’s ears
Norris’ admission about McLaren’s internal drivers’ title fight will come as music to the ears of Red Bull racer Verstappen with the Briton and Piastri bound to deny the other points and open the door for the defending champion to stake his claim to clinch a fifth successive title.
Verstappen took advantage of the mixed conditions and Piastri’s spin in Melbourne to claim second place in the Australian GP. Yet the Dutchman stated at the Chinese GP that he thinks the RB21 is only the fourth-fastest car behind McLaren’s, Ferrari’s and Mercedes’ machines.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Lando Norris |
44 |
| 2 |
Max Verstappen |
36 |
| 3 |
George Russell |
35 |
| 4 |
Oscar Piastri |
34 |
| 5 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
22 |
| 6 |
Alexander Albon |
16 |
The reigning champion also has the benefit of being Red Bull’s clear No1 driver alongside his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda. In contrast, previously Norris said he and Piastri give McLaren a ‘huge advantage’ with two No1 drivers given they push each other to reach their potential.
Yet the mood seems to be shifting already going by his comments at Suzuka, which also add to claims from Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko ahead of the Japanese GP. Marko hopes Norris and Piastri ‘steal’ points off each other as it will only serve to help Verstappen.
