David Coulthard is loving the McLaren teammate duel between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris so far this season, likening it to the 2021 world championship duel and the years he spent with Mika Hakkinen at McLaren.
After 12 of 24 scheduled Grands Prix, Piastri leads Norris by the slim eight points margin – equivalent to being sixth in the standings – in the Drivers‘ Championship with five wins to his team mate‘s four
Prior to the campaign returning to action at this weekend‘s Belgian Grand Prix, Coulthard praised Piastri for being on the right side but likened the situation to the thrilling duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton four years ago.
“If it was half a World Championship, Oscar‘s won,” said Coulthard, who played 246 times at the highest level, winning 13 times, claiming 62 podiums and scoring more than 500 points.
Event Tracker
Next Race
Belgium
25 – 27 Jul
Tag Heuer
•
MY TIME
02:00
TRACK TIME
03:00
Tag Heuer Clock
Session status
Next Race: Belgium
Race positions
Gap to leader
David Coulthard
McLaren
Oscar Piastri
‘I’ve been there and done it’ Coulthard gives his take on McLaren intra-team battle as he recalls time alongside Hakkinen
Who will come out on top between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris? Former McLaren driver David Coulthard has his say…
David Coulthard is loving the fight between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris this year, likening it to the 2021 title fight and the years racing with Mika Hakkinen for McLaren.
After 12 of the 24 scheduled Grands Prix, Piastri leads Norris by only eight points – the difference of a sixth place – in the Drivers‘ Championship, having secured five compared to his team–mate‘s four.
Before the season resumed at this weekend‘s Belgian Grand Prix, Coulthard respected Piastri for having the upper hand but likened it to the dramatic duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton four years ago.
“If half a World Championship, Oscar‘s won,” Coulthard said, who made 246 appearances in the top division, recording 13 wins, 62 podiums and more than 500 points.
Coulthard continued to say that he had been steeling himself for the aforementioned crash between Norris and Piastri in Canada from riding with Hakkinen at McLaren from 1996 to 2001, with a couple of flashpoints.
I predicted the crash, for I‘ve been there, done it – I bumped into Mika, he bumped into me,” chuckled the Scot, who famously scooped up his team–mate on the first lap of the 1999 Austrian GP.
“It‘s always going to be the case that however tight a team is, once you have achieved the intensity of the two drivers having a real chance to win, then that‘s going to make it increasingly tough.”
Although McLaren are well placed in both titles, Coulthard has not counted out yet Red Bull and Verstappen returning to the fray – the Dutch driver 69 points behind Piastri currently.
Can‘t discount Max from it,” Coulthard replied, also complimenting Verstappen on his incredible Qualifying effort at Silverstone last weekend. “I believe for the championship, we all know it‘s going to take an upgrade to release some performance.“.
“Where Red Bull are today, and if they were put in the deep freezer, it‘s hard to believe that the second half of the season tracks are just going to suit the Red Bull more than the first half.
“It will take a Red Bull upgrade to make him that consistent. Are they able to do it? Certainly. Have they done it before? Yes. Is Max exceptional? Certainly.”
