Hakkinen: Good McLaren ending possible, but journey will be 'horrible'
Double world champion - in McLaren colours - Mika Hakkinen puts forth the ‘nightmare’ scenario the intrateam battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri poses for the team, dubbing the world championship feat a “human test” the Woking-based team.
“This is racing and one of these drivers, they can win a championship. It’s a nightmare. It’s an absolutely horrible situation in such a team."- Mika Hakkinen.
Currently, finer margins could not be produced in the battle for the Drivers’ crown, as Norris leads from Piastri by one single point, following what’s been a stellar streak for the British driver, and a perilous slippery slope for Piastri who’s seen the large gap he boasted following the Dutch Grand Prix overcome by his McLaren teammate, and severely slashed by the reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Hakkinen outlined how critical the Woking-based team’s higher ups’ input in managing the dynamics between both of their drivers would be.
He said: “So, of course, now going towards the end of the season, Zak Brown, Andrea [Stella], they have to work so close with the drivers, that they find a beautiful harmony towards the end of the season.
“This is racing and one of these drivers, they can win a championship. It’s a nightmare. It’s an absolutely horrible situation in such a team."
However, he is quick to clarify that the fight in and of itself had absolutely no negativity about it, arguing instead that the nature of the intrateam battle posed a “human test” for all parties with a stake in the matter.
He continued: “But you know, I don’t mean negatively. I just mean it is what it is, and this is like a human test of everybody, how they’re able to manage the harmony that way.
“There has to be this agreement, what the drivers and the management have to do. Yeah, nobody don’t just walk past each other like this. They always stop and they discuss how we can do it better.
“It’s a beautiful team. You want this season to end up in a perfect way, and that’s why I think Lando is already quite experienced about Formula 1, Oscar is getting there. So I believe that they will find ways to end the season in a good way,” Hakkinen concluded.
Norris' huge gap on Piastri revealed
Piastri lagged six-tenths behind McLaren teammate and title rival, Norris, in Mexican Grand Prix qualifying session, remaining off the British driver's pace all weekend long, dropping 15 points to Norris in the race, which ultimately saw him relinquish the lead in the Standings.
F1 analyst Jolyon Palmer called the gap the largest teammate delta on the grid and highlighted that Piastri’s fifth place was aided by Lewis Hamilton’s penalty and Kimi Antonelli’s slow pit stop, plus a bold pass on George Russell, noting that performance remains a concern. Read Palmer's full statements here.
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