Brundle sees Norris – Piastri rivalry getting 'intense' at McLaren
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Sky F1's Martin Brundle believes the intra-team battle between McLaren stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is poised to escalate following their dominant performance in the Chinese Grand Prix.
The duo's one-two finish in Shanghai – McLaren's 50th in history – underscored their supremacy, but Brundle sees their harmonious rivalry teetering on the edge of intensity as the title fight looms.
Norris kicked off the year with a pole-to-flag victory in Australia, but Piastri struck back in China, claiming his third career win in F1.
With Piastri trailing Norris by just 10 points after two rounds – with Max Verstappen and George Russell sandwiched between them – McLaren's early edge has set the stage for a team papaya battle royale.
Brundle's Ominous Outlook
"Norris leaves China with one more point advantage over Verstappen in the championship than before he arrived, but more ominously for him, Piastri is now only 10 points behind," Brundle wrote in his post-race Sky F1 column.
"Next up is Suzuka. It's going to get intense between the McLaren pairing."
Fresh off their 2024 constructors' title, the team's harmony could soon fracture under the weight of individual ambitions.
But Brundle also highlighted Norris's Shanghai struggles.
"Another question was whether Norris could mount a challenge on his teammate and championship rival Piastri.
"But a disappearing brake pedal which became virtually non-existent on the final lap put paid to that, and Norris did well to just hold off Russell having another good day for Mercedes."
Despite the setback, Brundle celebrated McLaren's form: "It was the 50th one-two in McLaren's history and they really are on a roll these days."
Verstappen's Late Surge Adds Mystery
While McLaren shone, Verstappen endured a lackluster weekend, grappling with tyre wear and a conservative start after slipping behind the Ferraris.
Yet, the Red Bull driver's late-race pace baffled Brundle.
"It was about now that we remembered Verstappen was in the race as he started to find some grip," he noted.
"Somehow on lower fuel, or simply track conditions, and probably even the realisation that he didn't need to babysit the tyres so much, this allowed him to catch the Ferraris."
Verstappen's stunning recovery – capped by a fastest lap on the final tour – left Brundle puzzled.
"In fact Max would deliver his fastest and front-running lap time on the final tour, which is a bit confusing," he admitted, hinting at untapped potential in Red Bull's arsenal.
Despite Verstappen's resurgence, Red Bull endured a disappointing weekend, falling behind both McLaren and Mercedes.
With the Woking-based outfit firmly in control of the championship race, the question remains: will the title fight be determined by team orders or an all-out battle between Norris and Piastri?
One thing is certain – Brundle and any others expect the intensity to skyrocket as the season heads to Suzuka.
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