Lando Norris expressed his hope that his McLaren teammate and title rival, Oscar Piastri, would receive a fair and impartial welcome from the British home crowd at the upcoming Silverstone race. The two drivers are set to continue their championship battle this weekend.
With the championship battle looking increasingly like a McLaren internal contest, the two drivers in papaya colors are separated by only 15 points. Norris narrowed the gap and set the stage for his home race by defeating the points leader, Piastri, to win the Austrian Grand Prix.
During the post-race press conference on Sunday, held after McLaren`s fourth one-two finish of the season, the Australian driver Piastri was questioned about potential hostility from the crowd at Norris`s home event.
Norris responded first, stating:
“I certainly hope that won`t be the case. British fans are typically very welcoming to all drivers, and especially supportive of us at McLaren. Therefore, I believe the main thing is for all the fans to embrace and support everyone.”
Piastri, who has been with the Woking-based McLaren team since 2023, added that he has generally felt well-supported by the Silverstone spectators in the past, though he acknowledged it`s natural that Norris would have the stronger backing at his home race.
“A couple of years ago, they were even chanting my name in the crowd, which was unexpected,” Piastri remarked. “I don`t expect that level of support again, which is understandable. I feel the fans overall have been a bit kinder to us this year. We didn`t even hear any booing from Max Verstappen fans today, which was a pleasant change. They have always been quite accepting of me.”
“Naturally, I race for a British team, and I think they are big fans of the McLaren team colors and both of us. I anticipate there will be significantly more Lando fans than Piastri fans, but that`s fair. It`s his home race, so I think everything will be fine.”
Officials at the British Grand Prix also foresee no problems.
Stuart Pringle, the managing director of Silverstone, told Sky Sports News:
“I`m absolutely certain. Everyone here at Silverstone appreciates good sport, and the battle between these two teammates at the front is fantastic. We have knowledgeable fans here, people who truly love the sport. Silverstone consistently delivers. With 75 years of racing history, it continues to provide excellent racing with the current generation of cars.”
A Venue Where Victory Means the Most
Following his impressive victory over Piastri at the Red Bull Ring, Norris is likely considered a favorite to win again at Silverstone, a track where he has secured second and third place finishes in the last two seasons.
However, a genuine opportunity for a home win eluded him last year due to strategic errors during a race affected by changing weather.
One year later, as he prepares for his seventh British Grand Prix, Norris commented to Sky Sports F1:
“I`m excited. It`s the best race of the year. I even have my own grandstand and everything, so I`m incredibly excited.”
During the press conference, he added:
“I don`t feel any added pressure. Naturally, it`s the place I want to win more than anywhere else, but that doesn`t alter anything. It simply brings an extra smile to my face each morning. If anything, it`s probably a positive distraction. Now with my own grandstand, I have even more reasons [to perform well]. I`d describe it as more of a positive distraction than a source of pressure.”
Gilbert Pendleton 
Wesley Dunham