FIA Steward warns Lando Norris over McLaren’s ‘change of guard’ to Oscar Piastri
Johnny Herbert highlighted that McLaren could shift its focus from Lando Norris to Oscar Piastri before the end of 2024.
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Oscar Piastri [L], Lando Norris [R] (image via IMAGO)
Lando Norris emerged as a title contender for the first time in his F1 career in 2024. The British driver became McLaren’s lead driver in the fight against Max Verstappen and Red Bull. However, former F1 driver FIA steward Johnny Herbert has warned Norris of potentially losing this support by the end of this year.
The 25-year-old trails Max Verstappen by 62 points with just three races to go. As such, Verstappen has the opportunity to win his fourth title in a row at the next race in Las Vegas. Herbert reckoned that if Norris has lost the championship before the Abu Dhabi season finale, then the dynamics within McLaren would’ve changed already.
If we go to Abu Dhabi and the championship is done and it is not possible for Lando to win [the drivers’ title], that will already have changed.
Johnny Herbert told Vision4Sport
The ex-F1 driver insists that the Woking-based team would allow Oscar Piastri to race without any team orders. This ‘change of guard’ would continue into the 2025 season which could have a detrimental effect on Lando Norris‘ title hopes.
That will be letting Oscar be allowed to go out there and win the race if he can. The whole dynamic will swap over very quickly this year and will continue into 2025.
Johnny Herbert explained
Johnny Herbert convinced Oscar Piastri will be ‘difficult to beat’ for Lando Norris
The FIA Steward highlighted that in the aforementioned scenario, Piastri would pose a real challenge to Norris. Although, Johnny Herbert reckoned that the 25-year-old has upped his game this season as he took McLaren to first place in the Constructors’ championship. With Oscar Piastri coming close to the Briton.
Oscar will be very difficult to beat, but Lando has upped his game when he has had to and has been the man who has effectively led the team to be where it is at the moment.
Johnny Herbert noted
Certainly, Lando Norris’ chances to win the 2024 world title have declined following the Brazilian GP. The 25-year-old would be hoping to drag this fight till the season finale. However, it is likely that Max Verstappen will take the victory at Las Vegas.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)