What does Norris deal mean for Piastri? F1 Q&A

BBC Sport F1 correspondent Andrew Benson answers questions on the latest developments in Formula 1 before round 13 of the 2026 season. A major topic of discussion is the impact of Lando Norris' new contract extension on Oscar Piastri's performance. The source material states that there is tension behind the scenes, and Piastri's development has shown a decline this season.

Piastri started well in 2025 but fell off in the second half of the year, with his team-mate Lando Norris winning two races and potentially winning a third in Miami. Piastri only looked in contention for a victory in Hungary when Norris secured his first win of the season. Although head-to-head statistics show Norris with a 12-4 advantage, the source material notes that the two drivers have similar pace, with Norris being 0.071 seconds faster on average.

Factors such as grip limitations, reduced downforce, and Norris' consistent improvement have contributed to the gap between them. Team principal Andrea Stella has explained that Piastri needs to adapt his driving style to the car's low grip conditions, which requires mental effort and can result in a loss of tenths of a second. The source material emphasizes that the top three teams are closely matched, and even minor technical issues can lead to significant positional losses.