Claire Williams comments on the heated rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri – the former team principal explains why management is so difficult
Former Williams team boss Claire Williams has defended McLaren’s approach to managing its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The Woking-based team has famously decided not to categorically favor either driver in the battle for the drivers’ championship.
Instead, the team is letting Norris and Piastri race against each other on the track – under the strict rule that they are not allowed to crash into each other’s cars. Although the drivers have largely adhered to these so-called “papaya rules,” there have been some tense moments, such as at the Singapore Grand Prix and in Canada, where there were collisions.
“It’s not an easy task,” Williams explains to talkSPORT. “I think McLaren has two pretty relaxed drivers in Lando and Oscar. But equally, they are both extremely competitive.”
Plans don’t always work out
“Both have fought hard to get where they are today in Formula 1. And for many years, both have dreamed of becoming world champions,” the Briton continued. “They are now fighting that battle on the racetrack. But managing that is anything but easy.”
Williams emphasizes the unpredictability of racing, which can throw even the best strategies off course: “You can make the best plans before every Grand Prix. You talk to the drivers to keep everything clean and settle things on the track.”
“Racing is a crazy business. You never know what will happen when the lights go out. It’s not easy to control, and we can all look at it on Monday and ask, ‘Why did they make that decision? Why did they do that?’“
McLaren is doing its best
”But all I can say is that McLaren at the command post always has the best intentions and tries to do what’s best for its drivers on Sunday afternoon.”
With three races left in the season, the situation is coming to a head: Norris leads the standings by 24 points ahead of Piastri. But it’s not just the internal duel that’s causing excitement, as a charging Max Verstappen has already reduced the gap to Piastri to 25 points.