The success of Lando Norris at McLaren in Formula 1 was greatly influenced by Daniel Ricciardo’s inability to challenge him, according to CEO Zak Brown. Ricciardo joined McLaren in 2021 to replace Carlos Sainz, but struggled to perform at the same level as before. Despite a win in Monza, Ricciardo failed to adapt to the McLaren cars and was outperformed by Norris. This led McLaren to end their association with Ricciardo at the end of 2022. Brown believes that Norris’ confidence and mindset were transformed by his victory in Miami, as he was able to handle the pressure of competing against a more experienced teammate.
McLaren took advantage of Alpine’s uncertainty with Oscar Piastri in 2022 and hired him as Ricciardo’s replacement. Piastri had a strong debut season, securing a win in the Sprint in Qatar and two podium finishes. Brown is confident that the 23-year-old Australian will eventually reach Norris’ level and form the strongest driver lineup in the category. He believes Piastri has already matched Norris’ performance in his first year and a half, and any inconsistencies or errors are due to his lack of experience. Brown is excited about the potential of McLaren’s driver duo, stating that Norris is one of the best drivers in Formula 1 and Piastri has the ability to match his achievements.
