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Full Noise by SN
Piastri "will always be frustrated" by Norris, says F1 icon
SEN • May 20th, 2026 5:58 pm
Oscar Piastri’s challenge to catch Lando Norris has been likened to George Russell’s conundrum with Kimi Antonelli.
The McLaren drivers have been given free reign to race by Zak Brown, so long as they don’t do anything to risk the success of the team.
The 2025 season was marred by accusations McLaren was showing preferential treatment towards Norris who eventually leapfrogged his teammate to claim the F1 drivers’ title.
So far this season, little separates the two Mclaren drivers but Piastri’s position has been likened to Russell’s who, despite being the more senior driver at Mercedes, is struggling to get out of the shadows of his teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli who has won the last three races.
While Piastri downplayed claims of unfair treatment and insists the team is united, former driver Johnny Hebert believes the road ahead will be tough for the Australian who has been linked with a move away from the papaya.
“With Oscar there’s always going to be that frustration when you’re being beaten by your teammate,” Herbert said.
“We don’t see him showing his emotion very often. He is able to dig deep. It went a bit pear-shaped last year. He will learn from that. He won’t allow that to happen again. He’s learned the how and why it didn’t quite come together last season.
“He’s not far off of Lando so that means he hasn’t got that much work to do before he gets in front of him.
“But again, Lando just seems to have the ability to get the very best out of the car without making any silly mistakes.
“That’s going to be the strength that Lando is going to be taking forward.
“Oscar, a bit like George, is going to get his heels dug in and work out the why and how.
“And it’s not going to be simple, because Lando can definitely push the boundaries further than he has ever done before, just because of the experience that he had last year.
“He was able to overhaul Oscar, put him under pressure and then eventually get that championship done.”
McLaren will be looking to make a statement as F1 returns this weekend in the Canadian Grand Prix.
Reports suggest that the team will unveil further upgrades for the MCL40 and the changes to the front wing could see them challenge Mercedes.
Upgrades introduced in Miami saw McLaren gain 0.3 seconds a lap and helped Norris to victory in the sprint race.
