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Naomi Schiff believes Oscar Piastri finds himself in a tougher position than Lando Norris due to McLaren’s poor start this season.
A P2 finish at the Japanese Grand Prix has certainly lifted spirits, but Oscar Piastri hasn’t had a great start to the season.
And while Lando Norris has fared somewhat better, the reigning world champion will be equally frustrated about McLaren’s start this year.
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For the time being, Piastri and Norris have put their differences aside. Despite Piastri dismissing the rivalry with Norris, there is still some concern about how far they can lead McLaren.
But there are those who believe Piastri has more reason to be frustrated with McLaren than Norris, and it’s not just because of his two missed races this season.
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Naomi Schiff explains why Oscar Piastri won’t be ‘feeling great’ about McLaren this season
Naomi Schiff spoke on Up to Speed about the tense situation at McLaren, and how both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are faring this season.
She believes that Piastri missing out on the world title, unlike Norris, has given him more reason to be frustrated with McLaren’s performance so far.
“I think if anyone is going to not be feeling great, it’s going to be Oscar, because he didn’t manage to clinch that title last year. It was Lando.
“Okay, they’re not super competitive as it stands, but he achieved his childhood dream and then some. Most drivers dream to get to F1, then they dream to win a race, and eventually, hopefully, one day win a title.
“And only so few get to do that. He’s joined that very prestigious list. So, I don’t think he’s going back to his hotel every night and crying. I think he’s pretty happy to have had that world title.
“He’s been very clear in terms of his mental health and all of that… I think if anything, we turned the page so quickly. It feels like he’s just become world champion. We’ve moved on from that without anything having happened since Abu Dhabi…”
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Piastri’s frustration is understandable, given that the two races he missed weren’t his fault at all. And when given the chance, Piastri has shown he can compete.
There are questions around McLaren’s design for Piastri’s car, with many believing that McLaren prioritised Lando Norris during the development of the MCL40.
Despite this, Piastri managed to outperform Norris at Suzuka, showing that he can still compete. Some believe that Piastri hobbled Norris during the race, given how much better he was on the day.
The hope right now is that the two drivers can keep their rivalry aside and ensure McLaren can close the gap in the coming races.
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