Why Piastri believes he and Norris will avoid 'Senna vs Prost' repeat

Oscar Piastri has pointed to McLaren boss Andrea Stella's "people power" as a key trait that will help prevent his relationship with Lando Norris from descending to the depths of Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost.

Piastri and Norris are regarded as equal number ones at McLaren - a situation which has not always gone well for the team, with the fallout of Fernando Alonso vs Lewis Hamilton in 2007 still being felt, some 18 years later.

But prior to that, McLaren endured the nuclear fall-out of Senna vs Prost when they were team-mates between 1988 and 1989, with the '89 title being decided in the first of their iconic collisions at Suzuka when Prost shut the door on Senna at the final chicane. 

The Senna vs Prost rivalry is regarded as the greatest in the history of F1, and ended with Prost's departure as world champion to Ferrari for 1990. 

McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes his two drivers, who combined to deliver the first constructors' title since 1998 in 2024, are on equal footing, with the two having their first on-track skirmishes in '24.

In Italy, Piastri attacked Norris on the run to Turn 3 on the opening lap, scything past the pole-sitting Briton whilst team orders also flared up in Hungary when Norris initially refused to cede position back to leader Piastri. 

Both cases were diffused by McLaren, with Piastri pointing to Stella's man management skills in particular.

"F1 in those days was a very different era, and how we are as a team and as drivers is very different to both of those characters," Piastri exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"The times we have come close on track, or one of us has disagreed with the decision or the way around, we've always spoken about it and it has made perfect sense in hindsight. 

"From that side, I don't have any issues with how we're going to manage it, and I think one of Andrea's strengths is people power and how he is able to deal with difficult subjects.

"If we win the world championships of Senna and Prost, that would be good but I don't imagine us having the same kind of incidents."

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Exclusive Oscar Piastri interview

Detailing his relationship with Norris, Piastri went on to explain how tension between the two when fighting for wins and title would be "inevitable". 

"Obviously, I've never met Ayrton and did not meet Alain when he was racing, but I think [Lando and I] have shown in our actions that we are a very collaborative team, with the whole culture," he continued.

"It is natural that when you are both fighting for wins, there is going to be some moments of tension, it is inevitable and unavoidable, but it is how you deal with those, but there has not been many to deal with."