McLaren chief executive Zak Brown said it will be a “coin toss” every weekend between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris for who gains the upper hand in the title race.
Australia’s Piastri is on top at present, leading his British teammate by 16 points in the driver’s standings ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The points gap between the pair has never been more than 23 since the beginning of the season, with the McLarens winning ten of 13 races this year, including Piastri’s victory in Belgium last weekend.
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Brown was asked by Sky Sports in Belgium on Sunday which of Piastri and Norris has the momentum, to which he said: “They both do because they’re winning a lot and getting one-twos.
“I think Oscar was a little disappointed with qualifying in Belgium. Lando was very happy. I’m sure he’ll be a little bummed that he didn’t win today, but it’s coming off of two wins. I think it’s going to be a coin toss every weekend.
“Oscar is a machine. And what’s impressive is how aggressive he is, and yet he always brings the car home. That’s quite a talent.”
McLaren have not shied away from their willingness to allow their two drivers to engage in a two-way battle for the title.
But Brown believes four-time world champion Max Verstappen is not out the equation just yet.
The Red Bull driver is 81 points behind Piastri in third place on the driver’s standings, but the Dutchman has the potential to make up ground quickly.
“I think it’s too early. It’s looking good, but Max… there’s a lot of racing left to go. We’ve got a nice gap but I wouldn’t say we’re there,” Brown said.
“We’ve all been around this sport too long. To start dancing before you’re in the end zone is a very dangerous thing to do.”
Piastri picks off Norris in first lap | 00:32
Piastri’s brilliance so far this season has turned the table upside down in the McLaren stables with Norris having previously held the ascendancy between the teammates.
The margins are razor thin this campaign, however.
Piastri has won six races to four, while the Australian also leads the qualifying head-to-head 7-6.
Regardless of Piastri’s standing at present, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella insists that they will hand both drivers equal opportunity to chase victory.
Team orders will not decide the driver’s championship, the driver’s will, according to Stella.
“There is very, very little between our two drivers, and this is because the two drivers are racing at very, very high level,” he said.
“We are lucky at McLaren to have two drivers that are deservedly fighting for the World Championship. I think the difference will be made by the accuracy, the precision and the quality of the execution.
“We saw in Silverstone that a sporting issue for Oscar during the Safety Car restart and penalty cost him the race.
“In Spa, it was always going to be very difficult for Lando to keep the position, starting first at the Safety Car restart. At the same time, I think Lando didn’t help himself by not having a great gap on the finish line. So I think the execution is what is going to make the main difference.”