Remember the days when McLaren was built around Lando Norris and proudly proclaimed it? Well, that's history now; a new wind has been blowing.
Johnny Herbert is well known for his sharp tongue, but it's undeniable that he always carries a serious weight in what he says. As in the case of Oscar Piastri:
"I think his mental resilience, his balance, his pace, and his tactics are excellent this season. Plus, everyone can see and hear the stoic calm with which he drives, the sharpness with which he communicates and handles different situations. What we're seeing from Piastri is something we need for the title. Mentally, he's on exactly the same level as Max Verstappen!
Lando Norris, on the other hand, unfortunately makes a lot of mistakes. A perfect example of this is his recent qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia. Well, sure, you can say he was unlucky, but if someone makes a mistake at that speed, then that's the end of it. Is there a lot of pressure on him? Yes, but all drivers do—that's Formula 1! Some handle this better, others worse... Mistakes made by Norris can seriously damage the team's long-term title hopes, while Oscar Piastri has proven he can outperform even Max Verstappen. In every way. That's why I think it's time to say Oscar should be McLaren's number one driver!
Photo: Total Motorsport
