Ex-F1 champion asserts Lando Norris feeling pressure from Oscar Pastri being ‘equally the man’ at McLaren
Damon Hill explained Lando Norris is no longer the only driver consistently scoring points for McLaren after Oscar Pastri's decent run.
Follow Us
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri (images via IMAGO)
Damon Hill and Tom Clarkson recently discussed the incident involving Lando Norris at the Hungarian GP. In the final few laps, Norris was ordered to let his teammate Oscar Piastri go through. The Aussie had been leading the race from the start, but a pitstop gave the Briton an advantage. The F1 pundits debated whether Norris is feeling pressure from Piastri, especially considering his recent mistakes in Belgium.
Tom Clarkson in a recent podcast asked Damon Hill about Lando Norris‘ mistakes because he feels pressured by his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Clarkson wondered that the pressure could be one of the reasons for the 24-year-olds errors in recent races. Piastri also seems to be one of the fastest drivers in 2024. Clarkson thought the stress of competing with a strong teammate might be affecting Norris’s driving and causing him to make mistakes.
Is the reason Norris is making the mistakes because of pressure from his teammate? Is it one of the reasons, at least?Tom Clarkson asked on F1 Nation’s podcast
Further, Damon Hill responded that he believes there is some truth to Clarkson’s question. He explained that Norris used to be the standout driver at McLaren. He delivered impressive results and energized the team, playing a key role in McLaren’s first win of the season. Now, with Oscar Piastri also winning in the first half, there’s a new strong competitor who is also making a significant impact. Hill suggested that the Briton might be feeling the pressure because he’s no longer the only key driver.
I think there’s something in that. Lando has enjoyed the status of being the person in McLaren who provides results and gets them excited. He was the man. Now we’ve got Oscar who is equally a man!Damon Hill responded
Damon Hill believes Hungarian GP win was a major confidence boost for Oscar Piastri
Damon Hill in the podcast mentioned that Oscar Piastri is proving to be a steady learner. He is improving little by little, getting better and stronger over time. Hill noted that winning the Hungarian GP was a major turning point for the 23-year-old’s confidence. That win really boosted the Australian’s confidence and self-esteem which helped him perform better in Belgium. This victory not only made him feel more assured in his abilities but also positively influenced those around him.
He is showing himself to be a gradual learner. He is building bit by bit, getting stronger and stronger.Damon Hill stated.
The race win is a boost to his confidence and self-esteem, and the effect on others around him.
Certainly, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris’s performance altogether gave McLaren a good hike in the points of constructors. Currently they sit second, 42 points behind Red Bull in the championship. Fans hope the Woking-based team can snatch the lead from Red Bull in the last 10 races.
In case you missed it:
- Lewis Hamilton to push himself to the limit during his final season with Mercedes
- Can Carlos Sainz win in F1 after moving to Williams?
Stay Updated!
Gaurang Kadam
(535 Articles Published)