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'I’m not Lando': How Piastri won Verstappen’s attention in one race

22:38, 08 Jun

Updated: 22:52, 08 Jun

bySavannah Lenz

Max Verstappen has not had the most dominant year so far. While he has been able to make it onto several podiums, he is lagging behind the two McLaren drivers. David Coulthard has also noticed this and explains where Lando Norris falls short to his teammate when battling with Verstappen.

In a conversation with Bild, the German media, Coulthard commented on how Norris compares to Piastri's fight against the Red Bull Racing driver.

Turning point in Verstappen's fight

Despite a difference in their approaches, Coulthard says Norris has grown a lot in his battles with Verstappen.

He said, "Lando has learned his lesson from last year's World Championship battle. I think he has become mentally stronger. That he is fast is beyond doubt."

"The stopwatch does not lie. However, the mental aspect is a recurring theme for him, because he is more open about it."

Coulthard notes about Piastri, "Those who share a lot, also hear a lot. Oscar does what Kimi Räikkönen and Mika Häkkinen do: he remains silent."

Max Verstappen in battle with Oscar Piastri during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Coulthard then says he feels like Verstappen is fighting more with Piastri than he his with Norris.

''I don't have a crystal ball, but I think Max has considered it a duel since the first corner in Saudi Arabia. When he tried to overtake Oscar on the outside – as he so often did on Lando last year, Piastri stood his ground coolly. Oscar showed him: "I'm not Lando." From that moment, Max knew it would be a 50-50 duel.''

The former Red Bull Racing driver has had plenty of words for Verstappen, including saying that the Dutchman reminds him of Aryton Senna.

Read Coulthard's other comments here.

This article was written in collaboration with Hidde Korte.