Oscar Piastri makes prediction over Lando Norris team-mate 'tension'

Oscar Piastri has asserted he does not expect his relationship with Lando Norris to deteriorate as they battle for the F1 title.

At the summer break, Piastri holds a narrow nine-point lead over Norris in the drivers' championship.

The duo are seen as the primary title protagonists this year due to McLaren's position in the pecking order, which has seen it win 11 of the 14 grand prix staged to date.

The only clash between the pair so far this year occurred in Canada, however it was quickly brushed aside when Norris immediately accepted blame.

With the battle likely to only grow in intensity when the season resumes, Piastri is unmoved over what it may mean for their personal relationship.

“We're building Waffle Towers and doing silly stuff on Thursdays [at track] but obviously once we get on track, then the business starts and we're both very determined to try and win and try and get as many points as we can,” he said.

“There's definitely kind of two sides to it but if there's tension in wanting to beat each other, it never spills out off the track, which I think is a nice thing. 

“It is an interesting dynamic in how it kind of changes and flows. We've always gotten on well, so I don't think that'll change.”

McLaren has risen to the head of the F1 pecking order this year, having displayed solid progress across the last two seasons.

However, its position as the undisputed fastest squad in the field has left Piastri amazed at how far the team has come.

"Especially the last six months or so, it's been incredible – there's no other way of putting it,” he said.

"At the back end of last year, we obviously had some more success, had the championship for the Constructors', but this year has been completely different.

"We are going into some weekends knowing that you're most likely only going to be fighting a team-mate [for the win], it's a unique position to be in and a pretty cool one when you can pull that off. So yeah, it's been a lot of fun."