25 September 2023 , 13:07
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Damon Hill believes Oscar Piastri is now ready to provide a true challenge to Lando Norris.
The Australian racer has enjoyed an excellent rookie Formula 1 season so far. And he secured the best moment of it to date when he finished on the podium for the first time, in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
He finished third, one place behind team-mate Norris. It was a first double podium in two years for McLaren as their impressive revival in the second half of this season continues.
Norris has won the head-to-head with his team-mate so far this season. But Sky Sports F1 pundit Hill believes that result at Suzuka was a sign that Piastri is settled enough and ready to provide a real test for the Brit.
"It couldn't last forever, Lando knows that," said the 1996 world champion. "This is a game where there always is someone who is going to come to your house and start putting his feet up on the table and make himself a cup of tea.
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"That's what happens in this game, it's not your team. Lando knows the score and I don't think he got the best out of himself [in qualifying]. He's already said he recognises it's not nice having a quick team-mate, he'd rather not have one.
"But, for the team, it's fantastic. They know they've got two drivers that they can rely on going into the future and they're down there at the sharp end of the grid, two cars, not just one."
McLaren are fully aware of the talent they are privileged to have at their disposal. Piastri, 22, and Norris, still only 23, have their whole careers ahead of them and both have shown, even at a young age, that they have a special level of driving talent.
Piastri was last week tied down to a new contract until the end of 2026. Norris' current deal runs to '25, but already the team wants to extend that. Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed as much as he revealed he was "happy with how conversations with Lando are going", in that regard.
And Norris himself has said: "I've always said I want to win with McLaren and I think we're getting closer and closer to achieving that. And not just win races but win championships, both driver and constructors. I want to do it with McLaren, I'm very happy there. So if I was to spend 10-15 years there I'm not going to ever say no."