(Motorsport) McLaren are set to have the youngest drivers lineup next season with Oscar Piastri (21)  lining up with Lando Norris (22). The Alpine academy product has achieved some stellar results so far in his career but is yet to be tested in Formula 1. What follows is an unenviable and tough task of competing with Norris, who is arguably one of the brightest talents in the Formula 1 grid. Multiple race winner Daniel Ricciardo has struggled to cope with Norris’ performances since his arrival at McLaren, with the British driver scoring 45 more points than his Australian teammate in 2021 while the gap is 69 points this season.

Piastri, who has won back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in 2020 and 2021 will now hope to replicate that form in the biggest stage of them all. Speaking about his chances, 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg said “It is going to be tough for Oscar to do well there. Lando is world-class, he's world championship material there so it's not going to be easy to go there and do better than Daniel. Ricciardo is a multiple race winner, one of the best drivers in the world, and has found it unbelievably tough against Lando. Oscar is brand new to this sport! All the indications are that Oscar really is one of those future superstars. But I can't really believe that Ricciardo has suddenly unlearned to drive super fast.

"Therefore, I think it's Lando who's just performing like a world champion at the moment, he's just driving so incredibly well. So I really think it will be a big, big challenge for Oscar next year to be close to Lando. It's a brave move by Oscar, it really is. It is either he beats Lando or he's out of the sport, so it's really, really tough, but he believes in himself. And if you think you're that good, you've got to go for it. For Oscar, if you're a young driver and you have the opportunity to race for McLaren, and you're free to do so, you have to take it. Opportunities like that don't come around all the time, so he's done everything right." 

Speaking about his move to McLaren, Piastri said “Their enthusiasm to have me was very attractive. McLaren has a competitive car. Obviously it's a tight battle between Alpine and McLaren right now, but they are a competitive team with a hell of a lot of winning history, and I think the environment is a great fit for me. The team has great plans and the future is exciting. I'm also looking forward to working and driving alongside Lando. I know it's going to be a challenge, but I feel McLaren is the right place for me to start life in F1. I'm super excited to get started." 

Red Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner has admitted that he regrets not signing Piastri in the past. Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Horner said “Oscar drove for the Arden team in Formula 4 and Formula Renault, and was obviously a significant talent. There was an opportunity for Red Bull to look at him at the time and we didn't take up that option, which is something that I regret. 

“But what he went on to achieve is phenomenal in Formula 3 and Formula 2. If he'd have been a driver here, there is no way that he wouldn't have been under lock and key for a period in time. The only problem that he now has to deal with is the expectation on him will be immense. He's going to have to get in and deliver against Lando, which is no mean feat. But you either sink or swim in this business. And he's a very, very capable driver. I'm sure he's going to do very well."

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