Lando Norris on Oscar Piastri's Composure: 'He Makes Me Look Emotional'

Lando Norris admits Oscar Piastri's extreme calmness makes him appear 'emotional' by comparison, despite Norris believing himself to be cool.

Why it matters

This dynamic highlights a crucial difference between the McLaren teammates in their championship battle, with Norris's perceived emotionality potentially costing him valuable points.

The big picture

Norris has often been criticized for high-profile errors under pressure, leading to a 34-point deficit to Piastri in the standings. This would have been just 16 points without an unfortunate chassis issue that forced him into retirement at Zandvoort. Despite having four more years of F1 experience, Norris acknowledges Piastri's speed and talent are on par with his own.

What he's saying

Norris views Piastri as "incredibly calm" and "cool." He told Viaplay:

• "I feel like I am, but he makes me look like I'm emotional."
• He also states Piastri "certainly doesn't lack in speed, talent, ability in any sense of the word."
• Norris concluded, "I'm going up against a guy who is the same speed as me and just as good as me."

The challenge

The internal McLaren fight is increasingly about who makes fewer mistakes, and Piastri's unflappable nature puts Norris on the back foot, especially given his past criticisms for being too open with the press.