Piastri: Norris' Title Won't Change McLaren's Equal Treatment Approach

Oscar Piastri has made it clear he expects no shift in McLaren's driver equality policy following Lando Norris' 2025 world championship victory. The Australian insists Norris' title win won't alter their working relationship or the team's approach, emphasizing his teammate remains fundamentally unchanged despite the accolade.

Why it matters:

McLaren's ability to maintain harmonious intra-team dynamics while competing for championships could set a new benchmark in modern F1. With both drivers under contract through 2026, how the team manages expectations after Norris' maiden title win will test their much-praised egalitarian philosophy - especially given Piastri's strong start to the season before Norris' late surge.

The details:

• Norris secured his first world title at the Abu Dhabi season finale by finishing third, enough to clinch the championship despite Piastri and Max Verstappen finishing ahead of him on track.
• Piastri led the championship standings for much of the season, particularly after a strong run through the summer break, but acknowledged his performance dip allowed Norris to overtake him.
• Equal treatment stance: "No, I don't think that will change anything," Piastri stated firmly. "He's obviously had a great season and is a deserving champion, but he's still Lando Norris - it's not like he's become Superman."
• Performance acknowledgment: The Australian openly admitted Norris outperformed him over the full season: "Clearly, Lando has had a very strong season this year, and ultimately did a better job."
• Team philosophy: McLaren maintained strict parity in strategy and resource allocation throughout 2025, a policy Piastri expects to continue: "I'm expecting full fairness from the team and equality going forward. I don't have any concerns that will change."

What's next:

All eyes will turn to how McLaren navigates the delicate balance of supporting both drivers equally while Norris carries the psychological advantage of being reigning champion. The 2026 season will test whether:

• Piastri can rebound from his mid-season slump to challenge Norris more consistently
• McLaren's engineering resources can maintain equal development focus without internal friction
• Norris' championship experience creates an irreversible performance gap between the teammates

The Australian's calm acceptance of his teammate's achievement suggests McLaren's driver pairing remains stable for now, but the true test comes when both drivers are genuinely fighting for race wins and podiums in the new season. How Zak Brown's team handles any future strategic dilemmas - particularly if Norris challenges for a second title while Piastri seeks his first win - will determine whether their much-lauded equality model survives championship pressure.