Piastri confident he can surpass Norris for the 2025 championship.

      "I'm definitely not in the sport simply to fill a spot."

      Oscar Piastri is self-assured that he can compete for the title in 2025. While many view Lando Norris - the current leader in the championship - as McLaren's team leader, it was Piastri who stood out the most in the recent race in China. Norris believes that "only Ferrari" has a driver lineup that is as "balanced" in terms of talent, even though teams like Red Bull can actually benefit since their teammate doesn’t take points away from Max Verstappen in the standings.

      "Our system will ultimately prevail," Norris stated, "even against the top drivers in the field." Team principal Andrea Stella agrees, noting that "Lando and Oscar push each other and extract more performance than they would individually."

      It is said that manager Mark Webber expertly negotiated Piastri’s contract, ensuring he shares equal number one status, which sometimes makes implementing McLaren's famous 'Papaya rules' a bit challenging. Piastri, 23, recently signed a long-term extension despite earlier interest from Red Bull. In the latest Drive To Survive series, Christian Horner readily named "Oscar" as his pick between Piastri or Norris.

      "For me, I never seriously considered other teams," Piastri shared in an interview with the Times newspaper. "From both a car and team environment point of view, McLaren is where I want to be. Many would aspire to be here. I’m confident that I can win with this team."

      But does he believe he can outshine Norris? "If I weren’t confident in that, I probably wouldn’t have signed a long contract." However, McLaren faces the risk of experiencing the same type of teammate rivalry it’s known for, reminiscent of Fernando Alonso versus Lewis Hamilton or Ayrton Senna versus Alain Prost.

      "I understand that conflict could arise if we aren’t cautious," McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Auto Motor und Sport. "Much depends on the drivers' personalities. We’re fortunate to have two strong competitors but they get along well." Brown expressed his intention to learn from the Senna-Prost rivalry, emphasizing that "transparency" will be essential in resolving any disputes.

      "That’s why we consistently involve our drivers in our marketing efforts, organize golf outings, and have dinner together," Brown added. Now, the straightforward Australian Piastri heads to Japan as the most recent race winner, but he is not only trailing championship leader Norris but also Max Verstappen and George Russell.

      "I enjoy being in this position of expectation," he asserts. "I’m definitely not in the sport just to fill a role. I am here because I aspire to become a world champion. Over the last couple of seasons, I’ve proven to myself, more than anyone else, that I have what it takes. I don’t believe I’ve reached my full potential yet, but I’m striving to get there as swiftly as I can. I know when I perform my best, it’s enough to compete against the very best."