It seems like McLaren CEO Zak Brown is subtly casting a shadow over Lando Norris‘ burgeoning reputation by heaping immense praise on rookie sensation Oscar Piastri. Brown came up with a peculiar description of the 22-year-old Australian as a driver, an accolade that appears to push Piastri into a league of his own within the team.

Piastri’s inaugural season has turned several heads within the paddock, especially considering he’s edging closer to a top-10 finish in the championship standings. This is made all the more remarkable given the challenges he faced earlier in the season with a McLaren car that wasn’t quite up to par. Now, he’s not only making strides in his performance but is also threatening to eclipse the achievement of his highly respected teammate, Lando Norris.

Brown’s comments, as reported by a tweet from the reputed @FormulaShambles Twitter account, reflect a deep admiration for Piastri’s approach to his maiden F1 season. “Lando has out-qualified him nine to two, but from Silverstone, he’s on the same tenth. He’s able to do that by not making mistakes on Friday, not putting the car in the gravel,” Brown gushed. His consistent narrowing of the performance gap between himself and Norris highlighted the young Aussie’s learning curve. At Monaco, a circuit notorious for its punishing nature, Piastri was only half a second off Norris’ time on Friday.

But it’s Brown’s closing remarks about Piastri that could stir controversy and debate. Branding Piastri as a “very mature, very patient, very studious, big balls driver“ might make some wonder if this glowing endorsement is meant to elevate Piastri at the expense of Norris.

After Lando Norris’ Expletive Laden Flare-Up, Oscar Piastri Exposes McLaren Over Missed Opportunities

As the season continues, fans and experts will be keen to see if Piastri can capitalize on this praise and perhaps even overshadow Norris, or if Norris will rise to the occasion and reassert his dominance within the team. Whatever happens, it’s sure to be a riveting narrative for the fans. In another unfortunate-for Daniel Ricciardo narrative, Piastri has words of compassion and thanks to give to his fellow Aussie.

Oscar Piastri thanks Daniel Ricciardo for taking the hit in Zandvoort Crash

Daniel Ricciardo, recalling the split-second decision, highlighted the stark choices he faced: either collide with Piastri’s car or veer into the softer Tec-pro barrier. Choosing the latter, the veteran racer found himself gripping the steering wheel at the moment of impact, resulting in a broken metacarpal in his left hand.

As per Mirror.co.uk, Piastri, vocalizing his relief, said, “Obviously, I hope he has a speedy recovery. It’s never nice to see somebody get hurt. I’m thankful he chose the wall over me. We eagerly await his return to the grid.”

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When asked about his spin at the infamously challenging turn, Piastri reflected on the difficulty of navigating the Zandvoort circuit, particularly the turn’s transition and proximity to the barrier. “It’s definitely a tricky one,” he added. “You’ve kind of got to hope the grip is there when you get into the banking. I think I was maybe a bit ambitious, but it ends badly if you get it wrong.”

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The incident sheds light on the complexities and inherent risks of motorsport, and the quick decisions drivers must make. As the motorsport community sends their well wishes to Ricciardo, the coming weekend’s racing will undoubtedly bear the marks of this unexpected event.