Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle believes Lando Norris achieved an ‘outstanding level’ in the 2023 F1 season, particularly with the competitive edge brought by his new team-mate Oscar Piastri – but the Brit will be ‘mortally wounded’ after Piastri’s maiden victory in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race.
The 2023 season was a pivotal one for Norris at McLaren. Despite a challenging start, the team made significant improvements mid-season, turning the MCL60 into a strong contender for podium finishes.
Norris himself secured an impressive seven podiums, showcasing his skill and determination. However, it was Piastri, in his rookie season, who also made a notable contribution to McLaren’s success with two podium finishes.
According to Brundle, Piastri’s presence had a profound impact on Norris’s performance. He stated that Piastri’s arrival had sharpened Norris and pushed him to new heights in the 2023 season.
Brundle acknowledged Piastri’s impressive speed and results, but also highlighted that he made some rookie errors along the way. However, these challenges seemed to motivate both drivers and brought out the best in Norris, who delivered outstanding performances in the second half of the season.
Brundle also noted that Piastri’s victory in the Qatar sprint race might have affected Norris emotionally. It was a momentous achievement for Piastri, as he secured a Formula 1 win that had eluded Norris for years. Brundle suggested that Norris might be grappling with a sense of disappointment and damaged pride, especially considering missed opportunities in the past.
Overall, the presence of Piastri had a positive impact on Norris’s performance, pushing him to excel and raising the bar for both drivers at McLaren.
“Their [McLaren] new wind tunnel I don’t think will really pay a lot of dividends until 2025, but if they put everything else together well… and remember even a couple of years back there was a sequence of three races were Lando could have won all three of them.
“So it’s within touching distance and he must be mortally wounded that actually, it was Piastri who saw the chequered flag first.”