- McLaren’s Norris took pole position by less than a tenth of a second over Piastri
- The papaya pair were embroiled in several tense tussles during the 2024 season
- Where is the next Formula One race? 2025 calendar explained as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton do battle
Lando Norris has revealed that McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri will be allowed to hunt down the Brit from the green light at the Australian Grand Prix, after the pair sealed a front row lockout.
Norris, who finished second in the World Driver’s Championship last year, recovered from an early mistake in qualifying to take the season’s very first pole position in Melbourne.
The Briton edged out Piastri, at the Australian’s home track, beating him by less than a tenth of a second on Saturday.
During Norris’ hunt for the championship title in 2024, which he ultimately lost out on, the papaya pair were involved in several heated duels on the track, with the question of team orders coming to a head at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Despite being in prime position to hunt down eventual champion Max Verstappen, Norris was forced to yield to team orders – after initially pushing back against them – and allow Piastri to win his first Formula One race in Budapest.
The 25-year-old was eventually granted the status of quasi-No 1 at McLaren before the year was out. However, with the first race looming, he has confirmed that Piastri will not have to hold back on the track against him.
McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position in the season opener at Albert Park in Melbourne
The 25-year-old only edged out team-mate Oscar Piastri by less than a tenth of a second
While Piastri (left) starts behind Norris (right) in second, team orders will not stop the Australian driver going for the win
‘There has obviously been discussions because we’re prepared,’ said Norris. ‘We know we’re going to have a lot more of this kind of thing over the course of the season.
‘There are clearly rules – I answered this the other day – there are clearly rules we cannot cross. Both cars will always have to stay in the race, and that kind of thing.
‘But we’re both competitors, that’s clear. We both want to fight for a win and fight for victories – that is clear. But there’s just boundaries around the car, so just a little bit more space here and there, but we’re free to race. We’re free to try and win races.’
Despite the various tense tussles between Norris and Piastri last year, McLaren still won the constructor’s title over Ferrari and Red Bull Racing.
And while Norris was granted the No. 1 driver position to help see out that title, the pair are starting with a clean slate in Melbourne this season.
‘What won us last year the constructors’ [championship] was how we helped one another out and how we kept things clean and how there was order when there needed to be,’ continued Norris.
‘But a lot of that was very much later in the season and when external things were happening.
‘At the minute, there is none of that, so it’s good. We’re both excited, and we’ll, of course, always have our morning talks, but we’ll wait and see.’
Team orders came to a head at the Hungarian Grand Prix as Piastri secured his first race win
This year, though, there will be a clean slate between the drivers at the Australian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen will be the closest challenger to Norris and Piastri after finishing third in Q3
Reigning world champion Verstappen will be the closest challenger to McLaren at Albert Park, finishing four-tenths off the pace in Q3.
Lewis Hamilton’s first qualifying in Ferrari red did not go to plan down under, as the seven-time world champion finished down in eighth.
His team-mate Charles Leclerc was not much better, only going around the track two-tenths faster, and will start seventh on the grid.
