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Lando Norris Dominates Oscar Piastri in 2024: Montoya Calls on Australian to Step Up in 2025

Harry Stone by Harry Stone
December 30, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Lando Norris Declares McLaren’s Abu Dhabi Qualifying a ‘Perfect Day’ as Team Seals Front-Row Lockout

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 7, 2024 McLaren's Lando Norris after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/Pool

In a year that saw McLaren ascend to the top of the Formula 1 grid, the intra-team battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri became a focal point of the season. While Norris solidified his reputation as one of F1’s elite, Piastri struggled to match his teammate, losing the qualifying head-to-head 20-4 and finishing behind Norris in points, podiums, and race wins.

Retired F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has singled out Piastri as the driver with “the most to prove” heading into the 2025 season, asserting that the young Australian underdelivered in 2024 despite McLaren’s triumphant campaign.


Montoya: “Piastri Has the Most to Prove”

Speaking to LuckyBlock, Montoya expressed surprise at Piastri’s performance, particularly in qualifying, where Norris outshone him throughout the season.
“I really expected him to step up this year and I am a little surprised he didn’t,” Montoya said. “I felt that this year he would be better than Lando, but Lando took a massive step forward, and Oscar didn’t.”


Norris Dominates McLaren’s Comeback Year

Lando Norris had an extraordinary season, becoming McLaren’s leader in their return to the top. He bested Piastri in nearly every metric:

  • Qualifying Battle: Norris 20 – Piastri 4
  • Points: Norris outscored Piastri by a significant margin.
  • Race Wins: Norris claimed four wins compared to Piastri’s two.
  • Race Results: Norris finished ahead of Piastri in 16 races.

Despite this, Piastri managed to secure two dramatic victories, including his maiden win at the Hungarian Grand Prix and a follow-up triumph in Azerbaijan. He also contributed to McLaren’s first Constructors’ Championship in 26 years, finishing P4 in the Drivers’ Championship with eight podiums.


Piastri’s Perspective: “Qualifying Is the Focus”

Acknowledging his weaknesses, Piastri admitted that his qualifying performances left room for improvement:
“I don’t think I’ve ever really made life easy for myself in the races. The biggest one has been leaving a few too many positions on the table in qualifying. That’s definitely the big focus of the off-season—just trying to get those last hundredths, last tenths.”

At just 23 and with only two full seasons in F1, Piastri’s upward trajectory is clear. However, as McLaren positions itself as a championship contender in 2025, the pressure on Piastri to close the gap to Norris will intensify.


The Path Forward: Proving Himself in 2025

Montoya’s comments underscore the expectations for Piastri next season. With McLaren’s resurgence, the Australian must not only support the team’s Constructors’ Championship defense but also challenge Norris more consistently.

“In 2025, it’s about proving you belong in a title-winning team,” Montoya added. “Oscar has the talent; now it’s about delivering when it counts.”

For Piastri, the stakes are high, but so is the opportunity. A stronger showing against Norris could cement his place among F1’s top drivers and silence any doubts about his potential. Until then, the spotlight remains firmly on his ability to rise to the challenge.

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