Former F1 driver Christijan Albers is highly critical of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's performance so far this season. While they both won a Grands Prix already, according to the Dutchman, they are not performing well enough.
Lando Norris won in Australia, while Oscar Piastri won in Shanghai last Sunday, however, they both have had a lesser result so far as well. Piastri finished in P9 at his home Grand Prix, while Norris only crossed the finish in P8 during the sprint in China.
Albers began: "I think they are very bad. And I'm not talking about the car, because the car is fantastic. They just have the best car in the field. But when you see that, those two guys. Boy, I think they make a lot of mistakes. I see Norris like that constantly driving off track. I know the cars have become much wider, but yes, the whole field has to deal with that. I also think Piastri has ups and downs. Now he has won and he is strong, but we will see again in Japan."
The former Formula One driver therefore believes these two drivers receive too much praise. "If at one point you have such a good car and then you have two of those drivers who are actually being praised all the way up, then I thought it was severely disappointing, those first two races. I mean, don't forget that those two guys both went seriously off [the track] in Australia. That ended well then, that they got back on track."
In terms of the drivers' standings, Lando Norris is in first place, with 44 points. Max Verstappen is eight points behind his rival after two rounds, after the Dutchman finished in P4 last Sunday. Piastri at the moment is two points behind the defending world champion.
Albers therefore stated, "[The fact that McLaren are yet to disappear into the distance] that is of course lucky for Max. Because of that you see that Max is very close. And he can stay in touch. Those two guys could have actually been very far away already."
This article was written in collaboration with Cas van de Kleut
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Ridiculous comment. How do you know the car so well than the drivers and Team Themselves? How are people Experts at things they are not even involved with?
Give that car to Max and we will have repeat of 23 season. Not sure McLaren will achieve it this season with their current drivers despite having bigger advantage than Redbull. Just take a look at Marc on Ducati in MotoGP. Guy is literally toying with others who have +1 year of experience on GP24.
It s too early to say that Mclaren should have gone too far in the standings because at Mclaren it s not a favourite driver like it happened at RBR...
Max, lewis Schumacher all were favorite drivers for their teams. Why you only bring up RBR.
Don't think it's a new F1 fan thing. It's just a anti max and Redbull thing.
Jup, mainly brought up by those who are fan of Lewis who always cry it's all against Lewis... pot kettle thing
Because Christijan Albjers has made a comparison regarding the gap between Norris -Piastri and Verstappen in terms of the scored points..And Verstappen is at RBR.You don't have to wither like a flower whenever I mentioned Verstappen s or RBR s name..
Amazing how they cannot acknowledge the difference between how McLaren treats both of it's drivers compared to Red Bull who have openly admitted it's 'all about Max'. It's not comparable to any other driver since Schmacher. Lewis has not enjoyed the same unequalness and wouldn't want it. Max kinda demands it. Ignore those antagonistic trolls.
"You keep trying to start an argument with me, but I'm no interested in your responses. We're done." Yet you like a small child coming back . Seems like you can't stay with the decision you make.
I am sure yes. Lewis has stated this himself many times. Swapping drivers when it makes sense is part of the sport. Lewis advised his own driver swap with LeClerc in China. You keep trying to start an argument with me, but I'm no interested in your responses. We're done. You're going on ignore because I'm not going to let you drag me into another slanging match when you then blame me for 'bringing the place down' or some other BS. You're here to provoke a reaction and I'm not going to give you one. Ciao.
"Lewis has not enjoyed the same unequalness and wouldn't want it" Are you sure about that? Valtteri it's James don't ring a ball? "It was another day to forget for Valtteri Bottas in Singapore, as he had to bow to team orders once again to allow Hamilton to take fourth place at the Marina Bay Circuit. Listen to how Bottas reacts to receiving the order and there's a cameo from James!"
"If at one point you have such a good car and then you have two of those drivers who are actually being praised all the way up,...... I have been saying this for many a season....