Lando Norris has called on fans attending the British Grand Prix at Silverstone not to cast his McLaren teammate and championship rival, Oscar Piastri, as a villain. Following a tense and closely fought race in Austria where Norris triumphed over Piastri, the British driver emphasized the importance of unity and respect, especially with the duo locked in a tight two-way battle for the Formula 1 world title.
The McLaren team has emerged as the dominant force on the grid this season, turning the championship into a direct contest between Norris and Piastri. With his win in Spielberg, Norris closed the gap to Piastri in the standings to just 15 points and is now in strong contention heading into his home Grand Prix. The Silverstone crowd will overwhelmingly support Norris, who has sold out his personal 10,000-seat section at Stowe corner, known as the “Landostand.” Despite that, Norris hopes the British fans maintain their tradition of welcoming all competitors.
He acknowledged the possibility of Piastri facing a cool reception but said, “The British fans are normally very accepting for all of us, especially at McLaren, so the first point should be for the fans to support everyone.” Piastri, who races for a British team, echoed a similar sentiment, recalling the support he received at Silverstone in the past and expressing his expectation that the crowd would still be respectful.
Victory at Silverstone would mark Norris’s first back-to-back wins in a season and his maiden home Grand Prix win. McLaren’s team leadership believes he is more than capable of achieving both. They praised his racecraft, maturity, and momentum following a commanding performance in Austria. His pole position by half a second and a virtually flawless race underscored his growth and resilience after a disappointing incident in Canada, where contact with Piastri ended his race early.
That Canadian misjudgment was addressed firmly by McLaren, but the team stood by Norris and was impressed with how he bounced back. The response from both driver and team was described as united and strong, reaffirming internal confidence.
Norris goes into the Silverstone weekend with excitement rather than pressure. Despite the expectations of a home crowd, he insists it only motivates him further. “It’s a place I want to win more than anywhere else, but it doesn’t change anything. It just puts a bit more of a smile on my face every morning when I wake up,” he said. While acknowledging the pressure that comes with any race weekend, he views it positively and looks forward to soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying the experience.
