Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

F1 icon predicts 'fireworks' at McLaren as Norris and Piastri battle for title

19:18, 19 Aug

Updated: 20:15, 19 Aug

bySamson Ero

With Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked in a battle for the 2025 Formula 1 championship, former driver David Coulthard has cautioned the McLaren outfit about tension boiling over within the team as the title fight intensifies.

The former McLaren Red Bull Racing driver, who spoke on the Indo Sport podcast, hinted at signs of tension boiling over at the Woking-based outfit. The 54-year-old detailed how inevitable this is and how he had begun seeing signs of this.

“These are difficult situations which inevitably we will see boil over at McLaren, as with Lando and Oscar. We’ve seen little signs of it.”

Coulthard also hinted at the fact that the 2026 campaign, being a year filled with sweeping changes to Formula 1, could also play a huge factor in the tension in the team.

“One of those guys will be world champion this year, and it might be the only chance they get. Next year’s McLaren might not be any good. It’s a completely different sport next year. It’s still called Formula 1, but this could be their one chance.”

Currently, Piastri and Norris are separated by nine points in the drivers’ championship. The pair have also been involved in a few close wheel-to-wheel battles through the campaign, and earlier during the Canadian Grand Prix, Norris crashed into Piastri.

Lando Norris faces Oscar Piastri after qualifying battle at Spa

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri speaks on championship ambition

During the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Oscar Piastri opened up on his championship ambition. The former Alpine academy star expressed confidence in clinching his maiden title.

Sharing his thoughts with the media, Piastri stated:

“I have a lot of confidence in myself that I can do it. Not every weekend has been perfect, but there’s not many weekends in my whole life that have been perfect.”

"Just trying to put together a solid, consistent year is ultimately going to be important. The pace in the last few weekends, especially Spa, I’ve been very confident in and very proud of. I’m more than capable of continuing that for the rest of the year. I’m confident that I can do it, but it’s not going to be easy,” he concluded.