Lando Norris needs to prove he is worthy and Oscar Piastri has to beat him

As reigning Constructors' World Champions and with the World Champion driver in one of the cars, McLaren (powered by Mercedes) enter the new regulation era under scrutiny not just for outright pace, but for how they manage two drivers. Because both Norris and Piastri are 2026 Formula 1 title contenders.

Former Grand Prix winner Riccardo Patrese believes the pressure dynamic at McLaren has fundamentally shifted after Norris’ title breakthrough, placing new demands on both sides of the garage. In Patrese’s view, winning the championship was only the beginning for Norris: “Pressure is always there. Now Lando Norris is world champion, he needs to prove that he's a worthy world champion.”

Patrese pointed back to last season’s pivotal moments, when the title appeared to be slipping away from Norris after a mechanical failure opened the door for Piastri: “If you remember last year, there was a moment that was a disaster when his car broke down and it looked like Piastri was very strong and would win the title.”

What impressed Patrese most was Norris’ response under that pressure, resisting panic as momentum swung back and forth during the final phase of the championship fight: “I remember saying what Norris had to do was to keep calm because anything can happen; Piastri could make a mistake, and he had to concentrate fully.”

That composure, Patrese argues, proved decisive as the season reached its closing stretch: “I think he did it and at the end, especially close to the end of the championship, I think he really grew in confidence in himself. He reacted the way I thought he would, and even with eight or ten races to go, it looked like Piastri had to be champion.

“Suddenly, everything changed. Now he is world champion, and he deserves to be. But he cannot relax. For sure, he wants, and he needs to prove that he is the world champion," insisted the 71-year-old Italian motorsport veteran.

While Norris carries the burden of defending his crown, Patrese sees Piastri entering 2026 with a very different motivation. Having come close to the title last year, the Australian now knows he belongs in the fight.

On pure performance, Patrese believes (like many) Piastri has all the tools required: “Oscar Piastri looked like he was in charge last year, then suddenly he went a little bit lost. Then he came back for the last two races. So, I think from the performance point of view, Piastri can be world champion this year. He has the potential to be world champion.”

The margins between the two McLaren drivers, however, remain minimal, ensuring that neither can afford complacency as the new regulations take hold, says Patrese: “The two drivers are really close. Lando has to really keep motivation and work harder to show he is a world champion.”

For Piastri, the psychological reset after narrowly missing out in 2025 could be a powerful inspiration in itself: “Piastri, because he thought he could be world champion last year, now will want to prove that he can be champion this year.”

Patrese believes the internal duel at McLaren will be intense but controlled, shaped by mutual respect rather than hostility. Compared to some of Formula 1’s most combustible rivalries, he sees a far healthier dynamic

“From that point of view, we have a good contest between the two. Their relationship is good, I think, especially when you compare the rivalry between Piquet and Mansell and Senna and Prost. They relate; they are gentlemen," suggested Patrese.

As McLaren begins the new era with championship expectations firmly in place, Norris must show his title was no accident, while Piastri has one clear task. Beat the reigning Formula 1 World Champion and take the crown for himself. (Source: BetVictor Online Casino)