Despite Triumphing Over Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris Has to Take the Aussie Test of Fire Again

When McLaren ended their relationship with Daniel Ricciardo last year, they were unaware that the Woking-based team would be adding one of the hottest F1 prospects, Oscar Piastri, to their ranks. And now with two young stars on their side today, they’re looking to break their title drought since 2008. Yet in order to break the dry spell, the team’s drivers must excel as a unit. However, it seems that after overshadowing the flamboyant Daniel Ricciardo, another Australian test is waiting for the British racing driver, Lando Norris.

For both of his seasons with Ricciardo, Lando Norris outperformed the veteran driver. In fact, in 2022, Norris scored 122 points compared to Ricciardo’s 37 points and as a result of the Honey Badger’s poor performance, the Woking-based team has decided to switch him out for another Australian, The reigning Formula 2 and Formula 3 champion, had just one dream growing up, to compete in the highest level of motorsports. And now that his ambition has come true, he has been paired with another outstanding Formula One prospect, Lando Norris, who many believe has the ability to one day win the F1 championship.

Yet as he begins his first season, he has the baggage of a champion driver. Hence, when Piastri was asked by the national broadcaster ABC if he could defeat Norris, the Australian responded, “ Yeah, I think so. I think everyone has to have that self-belief that they can win, or if they’re not in a position to win to do the best that they can with what they have.”

READ MORE: Oscar Piastri Reveals Why McLaren Made Lewis Hamilton-Like Move to Replace Daniel Ricciardo

The way the rookie driver has carried himself proves that Lando Norris might be having a tough time against the young Australian. But what about the other Mclaren young gun? How does Lando Norris feel about the inclusion of Oscar Piastri in the team? Let’s hear it from the 23-year-old himself.

Lando Norris shares his perspective on Oscar Piastri joining the squad

Oscar Piastri had a lot of controversy before signing a contract with McLaren. Piastri had received training in the Alpine camp, but the drama was that the 21-year-old refused to continue with them while the Enstone team offered him a place in their team. At this point, McLaren intervened and stole the promising Australian. So now, the Australian will race alongside Lando Norris and as things stand, Norris believes that the fresh-blood Piastri will not only push the team forward with his sheer skills but also the 21-year-old help push the Briton himself.

The 23-year-old said while talking as per Planet F1, “The reason Oscar is here is to push me more, is to push us as a team more, that’s why he got brought into the team/ So absolutely, I think that’s going to help us as a team. It’s going to force me to push the limit maybe that little bit more. It’s actually something I was doing last year, but it might just be that he’s able to push me more in different areas of my driving and that should only be able to help us take a step forward as a team, and to also score more points as a team by the end of the season.”

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Since Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in Monza in 2021, the team has been very close to winning but hasn’t been able to add other victories. That being said, up until this point, only Lando has been pushing the McLaren to the limit, but now that the team has a fresh driver, do you believe 2023 will bring about a turnaround in the fortunes of the Woking-based squad?