McLaren Explains Norris' Dominance, Piastri's Struggles in Mexico

Lando Norris delivered a standout performance in Mexico City, a race that saw him not only secure his first win since the Hungarian Grand Prix but also move into the lead of the drivers’ championship, now holding a single-point advantage over teammate Oscar Piastri. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella attributed Norris's success to his driving style being perfectly suited to the low-grip conditions, which contrasted sharply with Piastri's characteristics.

Why it matters:

This divergence in performance highlights how specific track conditions can dramatically impact driver effectiveness, even within the same team and car. For McLaren, understanding and adapting to these nuances is crucial for consistent performance from both drivers and for solidifying their championship aspirations as the season nears its end.

The Details:

• Norris's Adapted Style: Andrea Stella noted that the special low-grip conditions in Mexico perfectly suited Norris's natural ability to extract lap time. Stella stated, "It's not the first time I feel that Lando exhibits performances at this level. I think he was just essentially fastest in every single session."
• Piastri's Challenges: Piastri faced a more difficult weekend, particularly struggling with the circuit's low-grip nature at both COTA and the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. His driving style, which doesn't naturally adapt to significant car sliding, proved to be a hurdle.
• Team Adjustments: McLaren identified specific car setups and driving adjustments for Piastri between Saturday and Sunday. Stella praised Piastri's ability to adapt, noting, "Oscar should be very proud of himself, of how he has handled the transition [from Saturday to Sunday]. We could see in the race that he was applying this."
• Learning Experience: For Piastri, this challenging weekend was framed as a valuable learning experience, adding new tools to his "toolbox" to become a more complete F1 driver, especially important with varying conditions expected in the remaining races.

The Big Picture:

McLaren is currently in a strong position, with both drivers showcasing their potential and the team demonstrating an improved understanding of car performance. Norris's championship lead, however slim, underscores the tight competition not only within the team but also against Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen, who trails Norris by 36 points.

What's next:

Heading into the final four rounds of the campaign, both Norris and Piastri, along with the McLaren team, have reasons to be confident. Stella concluded, "I think both Lando and Oscar go into the final four races with reasons to be confident and I think the team also go into the final four races with more understanding of how to extract performance from the car consistently." The team's ability to maximize performance for both drivers across diverse conditions will be critical in the intense championship battle.