The rivalry has never done anyone any good and acts only as a distraction. Oscar Piastri realizes this and has brought forward his hand for friendship with his senior. As the rookie portrays Lando Norris in a mentor-like role welcoming his experience as a driver, he also dismisses any rumors of friction between the two. The Australian explains how his fellowmen help him out. Let’s find out what exactly is Norris helping Piastri out with.

Oscar Piastri’s rookie season in F1 has been somewhat of a mixed jar of emotions so far. The Australian has quickly found his feet at McLaren and is performing on about the same level as star driver Lando Norris. Piastri beat Norris at the Saudi Arabian GP and matched him for pace at the Australian GP. Everybody at McLaren, including his teammate, is full of praise for him. However, the MCL60’s lack of pace means Piastri’s effort sometimes goes unnoticed and is overshadowed by McLaren’s downfall.

A rookie performing at the same level as the No.1 driver usually points toward a rivalry between the two drivers. The no.1 driver wants to protect his status whereas the rookie wants to make a mark. However, that’s not the case at McLaren, as Oscar Piastri is full of praise for his teammate. The rookie suggested how Lando Norris has been like a mentor to him and that he looks up to him for suggestions. Piastri explained how he’s learning a lot from the Briton about every aspect of racing.

According to motorsport.com, Oscar Piastri said, “I’m definitely learning a lot from Lando. I also benefit from such things, especially in meetings, when going into detail, not just how to drive the vehicle. I always think there are areas where we need to try to recover. So it’s a good thing to have him by my side as a criterion. Lando has proven himself as a high-quality driver in his career so far, so I can definitely see that even when working with him.”

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Piastri’s statement that Norris has proven himself reflects the trust he has in the Brit’s opinion. Any rivalry rumors between the two have been put to bed by Piastri. The Australian recently explained what Norris feels about the MCL60 and how it helps him and the team.

Oscar Piastri on Lando Norris having the same feedback as him

Piastri suggested that both he and Norris feel the same way about how the car handles and drives. As a result, the requests for setup and changes are very similar, which makes it easier to discuss and set up the car. The similar feel and feedback are great for the team as well as it makes correlating the data easier. This, in turn, helps steer the team in a clear direction, telling the engineers the exact points to work on.

According to motorsport.com, Oscar Piastro said, “I have feelings similar to what Laando said. We work very similarly on our requests from the vehicle.” “The fact that we work in a very similar way is a good thing for the team. In terms of engineering, this gives them a very clear direction.”

Watch this Story: How Oscar Piastri Has Made a Scintillating Rise to the Pinnacle of Motorsport

What do you make of Oscar Piastri presenting Lando Norris in a mentor-like role? Will this new McLaren partnership guarantee the bromance we were promised when Daniel Ricciardo joined?