Norris sounds like someone in need of a psy. He more or less confessed having mental issues at times. Wow. Oscar is made of stronger stuff.
Maybe McLaren invested more on Norris over 7 years (against 3 for Piastri), and want to protect that investment ? Maybe Zak Brown has understood that Norris needs an arm over the shoulders at times? Maybe analysing data and silulation, they see more potential in Norris than Piastri? Maybe Norris has private backers influencing the team? Or maybe the sponsors want it that way ? Only an aggressive pundit like Jacques Villeneuve or Nico Rosberg could tackle Zak Brown on the subject. Brown would deny anything of the sort, of course.
I subscribe to your "Frankly" emotional investment in Lando and Zak, all drivers and managers have positive attributes and maybe Lando saying " as long as I don't get undercut" becomes a contract that includes all acts of war, bad pitstops, etc... so congrats and cheers
Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but I laugh at that comment. McLaren belongs to a Middle-East conglomarate, its CEO is American and the team principal Italian. They have won championships with Brazilian, Austrian, French, Finnish, British and German drivers. Why would McLaren prefer a British driver ?
Oh, I’m not invested in any of them. I don’t know why anyone would be. I just don’t understand the animus toward them. They all seem like decent blokes to me. I could be missing something as I don’t pay much attention to their personalities. As far as Zak is concerned I think he’s done a great job of managing the team so far, and I’m always glad to see an American do well in any role in F1. It deflates some of the bias that seems to be built into the sport.
Oscar is a better driver. having said that if you think there is no hate toward Lando on this forum- please reread the posts. It’s laughable how bad the dude gets dragged.
F1, not McLaren. You're bringing up some sort of diversity argument to think that all of F1 is not biased towards the British because it is.
Lando’s dad sponsors the team via his electric scooter company. Zak is like Pavlov’s dog when you waive money in front of him
I will not try to dissuade you from that opinion. At the moment, the FIA is managed by Ben Salem from the Middle East, Liberty, is an US company, with an Italian CEO with hardly any British input in the management of the series, unlike 20/25 years ago when the Ecclestone/Mosley duo held all the top positions. The British bias talked about comes from SKY and the commentary from British pundits addressing their public and constantly refering to British drivers. When I listen to commentary from French pundits, I hear at length about Gasly and Ocon, often totally irrelevent in the race. My daughter in Spain tells me it's the same there with Alonso. The stewards at each GP are chosen from different countries; they are not only British. 8 out of 10 teams are based in UK; that may have an influence ?
Maybe you are on to something there: commercial interests as the reason why Norris is looked favourably by the team.
Lando Norris’ Father Collabs With McLaren to Launch $1,500 Electric Scooter - The SportsRush From 2024 I believe
The problem is McLaren and the UK media kept propping him up as their golden boy. He was the answer to McLaren's problems. But he found out a guy who was supposed to be his number 2 ended up number 1 -- and he's having a tough time letting Piastri live in his head rent free. Piastri is one of the drivers who makes the least mistakes, lap after lap. Its his advantage.
Lando is not title-winning material. Not because he lacks the skills but because he lacks the spirit. Lando is "Blando", is a soft puppy. You need a mean cold-hearted attitude to be on top, able and willing to bite a head off, not just to bark.
You know what that article fails to mention? 37 laps on the medium tire which means low tire degradation in one of the fastest races(time-wise) in F1 history. So it was obviously an aerodynamic achievement from Max but also at the same time getting the tires to last longer on the first stint and upsetting Mclarens tire strat to some degree.
I read the other day (or it was on a The Race podcast, I forget), that Laurent Mekies mentioned a week or two back that on his very first day of work Max personally approached him and told him ''don't listen to any of the media BS, I'm not leaving Red Bull"