P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren F1 rivalry tipped to “explode” as title race intensifies
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya anticipates a brewing rivalry within McLaren’s team as the title race in Formula 1 approaches its climax, with just nine points separating Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship standings ahead of the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix. While the McLaren duo have mostly maintained a civil relationship, tensions briefly rose during the Canadian Grand Prix before Norris took responsibility for the incident. With Max Verstappen no longer in contention, McLaren is on track to potentially secure the constructors’ championship in Baku next month, allowing Piastri and Norris to race more aggressively against each other. Montoya predicts that the close competition could lead to explosive confrontations between the teammates, especially if the championship battle intensifies in the final races. He highlights the competitive nature of the sport and suggests that the pursuit of the world title may eventually overshadow the harmony within McLaren’s team, potentially resulting in on-track incidents between Piastri and Norris.
