Sky Sports F1 pundit makes demand to McLaren over Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
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Oscar Piastri has "earned the right" to be given equal status to Lando Norris. That is the view of Karun Chandhok who would like to see both McLaren drivers given the opportunity to challenge for Formula 1 glory this year. The Woking-based outfit won the constructors' title in 2024 and will want to follow that up with a successful bid in the drivers' championship.
But only one of their racers can be successful on that front. Last year, McLaren used their own in-house 'Papaya Rules' to decide who got priority, with Norris preferred more often than not because of his position in the championship. However, the Brit was unable to get the job done with Max Verstappen instead winning a fourth straight drivers' title. Norris will go again in the coming season and, ahead of his third season in F1, Piastri also deserved the chance to go for glory in Chandhok's view.
The Sky Sports F1 pundit said: "I would give them joint equal number one status until probably the summer break because I think they have both earned the rights to be equal number ones. "Oscar is on an upward trajectory. Lando has been the number one this year, there's no doubt about it. Lando has been the faster driver, but Oscar has had an amazing progression since his debut season, and he will carry on progressing.
"So, I would give them equal number one status. I will then get to the summer break and would assess the situation and if they're in the championship fight, I would then be stronger about calling 'number one, number two' from the summer break onwards.".
