McLaren has kicked off the Formula 1 season’s opening weekend on a high note, securing the top two spots in the qualifying round for the Australian Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri, starting behind Lando Norris, has made it clear that he will not be holding back and is ready to compete with his teammate.
“If there are opportunities for either of us to gain an advantage from certain situations, we will do so, and we are free to do so,” Oscar Piastri shared during the press conference. “We both want to fight for the win, that’s clear. I want to win the race just as much as Lando does. But we are free to race.”
The Number One Rule
A one-two finish for McLaren was anticipated. The team has therefore prepared well for Sunday’s race scenario. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start from the front row, with Max Verstappen in third place, directly behind the two teammates. Piastri was asked about how the discussions will go tomorrow morning and to what extent he may challenge Norris, as McLaren, of course, wants to do everything possible to secure the win.
“We’ve obviously already had discussions, because we are prepared. We know that we will encounter these kinds of situations more often throughout the season, so there are literally rules that we cannot cross. For every team, not just McLaren, the number one rule is that there must be no contact and you must give each other space. So that’s no different.”
