P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oscar Piastri is convinced the McLaren way of having two strong drivers as opposed to the Red Bull philosophy of prioritising Max Verstappen is far more beneficial.
Oscar Piastri believes that Max Verstappen’s history of having relatively easier team-mates does not offer as many benefits as Piastri’s competitive rivalry with Lando Norris. McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella has emphasized that both Piastri and Norris have a fair chance at the championship this season, with both drivers confident in their abilities to become world champion. At Red Bull, Verstappen has always been the top priority regardless of his team-mate, which has included Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and most recently Sergio Perez, who was released at the end of last year. Verstappen’s new team-mate for the upcoming season will be Liam Lawson, a rising talent from New Zealand who has had limited F1 experience. Piastri believes that the intense competition between himself and Norris has led to significant performance improvements for both drivers, contrasting with the more solo-focused approach at Red Bull. Piastri is convinced that Lawson will pose a strong challenge to Verstappen, highlighting the potential benefits and drawbacks of having a competitive team-mate in the quest for the championship.
