Remember the days when McLaren backed Lando Norris and proudly announced it? Well, that's history; new winds have been blowing ever since.
Johnny Herbert is known for his sharp tongue, but it's undeniable that his statements always carry a certain weight. As in the case of Oscar Piastri:
"I think his mental strength, poise, pace, and tactics have been outstanding this season. Furthermore, the stoic calm with which he drives and the quick-wittedness with which he communicates and handles various situations are evident for all to see and hear. From Piastri, we see something that is necessary to win the championship. Mentally, he is exactly on the level of Max Verstappen!
Unlike Lando Norris... Unfortunately, he makes a lot of mistakes. A perfect example of this is his recent incident in qualifying in Saudi Arabia. Sure, you can say he was unlucky, but when someone makes a mistake at that pace, it's the end. Is the pressure on him? Yes, but every driver is under pressure; that's Formula 1! There are some who handle it better and others who handle it less... The mistakes Norris makes can significantly damage the team's championship hopes in the long run, whereas Oscar Piastri has shown that he can even surpass Max Verstappen. In every respect. That's why I think it's about time to say that Oscar should be McLaren's first driver!"
Photo: Total Motorsport
