Piastri predicts possible repeat of 2016: Fierce Hamilton-Rosberg Scenario looms at McLaren

Max Verstappen started from pole position, but after fierce battles with both McLaren drivers, he was forced to concede to the dominant team from Woking. Oscar Piastri took the lead on lap 14 after a minor error from the Dutchman, and shortly after, Lando Norris also overtook him. From that point on, the McLarens were untouchable. The rest of the field, led by George Russell in P3, trailed by over half a minute. Verstappen ultimately finished just outside the podium.

When asked after the race if the rivalry between the two teammates could head towards a 'Hamilton vs Rosberg scenario' from 2016, Norris was non-committal. "Time will tell," he told media. Piastri, on the other hand, offered a very open answer about his rivalry with the British driver.

"We said that we're trying to repeat 2007," the Australian referred to the then rivalry between Hamilton and Alonso at McLaren. "I don’t know. We clearly know that we have our strengths. It’s always been close between us. It’s going to be a good battle. There will be weekends where Lando is stronger and weekends where I am stronger."

Piastri admitted that an internal fight between the two is inevitable. "We’re very aware of the fact that we want this success for as long as we’re at McLaren, which is a very long time for both of us. We’re aware there’s going to be a fight. We both want to become world champions, obviously. But we don’t just want one opportunity at this success. We want it for the next however many years, and that’s an important and an easy thing to keep in mind for us and the whole team."

When asked if it's harder to contest a title with your teammate, the championship leader agreed. "In some ways, yes. In some ways, no. We know pretty much exactly how one another drives. We know our strong points, maybe some of our weaker points. So from that side, you have more information, but it goes both ways. We both know we’ve got the same car, so that removes one factor. But there are other complications with having the same car.

"You can have the same strengths and weaknesses on track. With how difficult it is to follow cars, 9 times out of 10, whoever’s in front at the start is probably going to be in front at the end. So it’s difficult like that. Then there are the pit strategies and whatever that also becomes a factor when you’re in the same team. There are positives and negatives," Piastri concluded.