Lando Norris makes ‘more selfish’ claim after beating Oscar Piastri to 2025 F1 title

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Lando Norris came out on top in the intra-team battle at McLaren in 2025 as he beat Oscar Piastri to the championship.

The Brit finished third in the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was enough to seal his first F1 title. Max Verstappen won the race from Piastri, but the four-time champion missed out by just two points.

Piastri had been leading the standings by 34 points after the Dutch GP, but individual errors, crashes and team orders were among many factors in a downward spiral for the Australian.

He finished 13 points behind his McLaren teammate in P3 in what was a frustrating end to the season. But there were no hard feelings between the papaya duo, as Norris wanted to ‘hug’ Piastri after beating him for the championship.

Lando Norris admits he needs to be ‘more selfish’ after beating Oscar Piastri in 2025

Piastri congratulated Norris in parc ferme and on social media, showing great class after his defeat. He will be determined to dethrone his teammate in 2026, but the Brit’s new approach may give him the upper hand.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the 2025 champion admitted that he felt that Piastri was ‘just a bit better’ than him after the start of the year. The Aussie had won five of the first nine races, while Norris made costly mistakes in qualifying and won just twice in that time.

He says that he proved himself wrong by making the comeback, and that he needs to be ‘more selfish’ in the future: “At times, a little bit from the previous point, I’ve not always had the most belief in myself.

“There’s certainly been times, even this year, when Oscar’s doing a better job than me and I wasn’t doing a great job and I was like: ‘Well, maybe they’re just a bit better, maybe that they can just be more consistent, get more out of the car’.

“I just never thought at times that it was possible. So for me to then do that for myself to kind of go: ‘Ah, you’re wrong, you can do it’.

“It’s a pretty incredible feeling to have for yourself and I wouldn’t say I’m a very selfish person, but I think I’ve also learned at times I almost have to be more selfish with some of these feelings and thoughts and I need that to almost make me a better and stronger driver.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Oscar Piastri needs to adopt Lando Norris’ mentality to win the championship

Zak Brown is adamant that Piastri will be a champion one day after losing the 2025 title. But this season has proved to him that he needs to make further changes to come out on top.

Norris’ approach should be the benchmark for the 24-year-old, as his championship win proves that it works. This ‘selfish’ mindset could be the difference maker in 2026, where McLaren are hoping to be a force in the field again.

Juan Pablo Montoya and Damon Hill agree that Norris will not let Piastri beat him in 2026. He will again prove to be strong competition, but the Aussie is no easy opponent either.

Martin Brundle thinks Piastri has a ‘laser-guided’ advantage over Norris with his ‘bold’ overtaking. After the reset of the winter break, the No.81 driver could be menacing with the new regulations, if he can get over his loss in 2025.