Piastri on similar trajectory to F1 champion Norris, Brown says

Feb 9 : Oscar Piastri is on a similar career trajectory to Formula One world champion teammate Lando Norris and should have a shot at the title this season, McLaren boss Zak Brown said on Monday as they prepared to test in Bahrain.

The American told reporters on a video call that his drivers were raring to get going.

"He (Piastri) is now going into his fourth year. Lando has a lot more grands prix than he does so if you look at the development of Lando over that time, Oscar's on a similar trajectory," Brown said.

"So he's in a good place, physically very fit, excited, ready to go."

LAST AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION WAS IN 1980

Piastri, who debuted with McLaren in Bahrain in 2023, can become Australia's first champion since Alan Jones in 1980.

While Piastri took his first win in his second season, Norris had to wait until his sixth. Both won seven times last year.   

Brown said he had spoken a lot with the Australian over the European winter break and expected the 24-year-old, championship leader for much of 2025, to pick up where he left off.

He said the discussion had been all about creating the best environment for him and what McLaren needed to do to support him. 

Brown said Piastri had spent time in the simulator and, in response to a question about lingering sentiment in Australia that McLaren favoured Norris, "he knows he's getting a fair shake at it".

"You win some, you lose some. Things fall your way, things don't fall your way," added the chief executive.

PRE-SEASON FAVOURITE

Brown said Norris' confidence level was also very high.

"He's highly motivated and it's our job to give him and Oscar the equipment again to be able to let them fight it out for the championship," he said.

"If we can do that, I think Oscar and Lando will both be