Norris and Piastri: What can we expect for 2023?

Pure talent

The main reason many people are looking forward to seeing this duo on track in 2023 is the fact that both drivers, both Norris and Piastri, are undeniably talented.

Lando Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019, and even though he has been the team's youngest driver over these past few years - when he raced alongside Carlos Sainz (2019-20) and Daniel Ricciardo (2021-22) - he has always been considered the team's wonder boy, who see him as a future world champion. But for him to reach the top of the main category of motorsport, McLaren need to give him a car capable of fighting for wins, which has not happened so far. When that happens, and if it happens, there is no doubt that Norris will have a great chance of becoming Formula One champion. However, only time will tell.

Only two years younger than Lando Norris, and without any experience in Formula 1 so far, Oscar Piastri will start 2023 catching the attention of all fans of the category. The reason is very simple: he was the main character of a long soap opera that happened during the summer break this season. After Fernando Alonso announced his departure from Alpine at the end of 2022, the French team immediately announced that the young talent - who until then was a member of the Alpine Academy - would be the Spaniard's replacement for the 2023 season. But Piastri had other plans, as he had already signed a contract with McLaren. After all the discord caused by the driver, it is common for everyone to be anxious to see if he will really be all that they expect in the premier class, as in the access categories he was undeniably very successful.

Career Titles

To be able to better analyse how good the McLaren duo is for 2023, we took a look at their routes to Formula 1. In particular, a focus on the titles they won. 

Lando Norris has won more titles, the first of which was in 2014 when the Briton became world kart champion. Both were champions in karting, although the highest title was only won by Norris. The following year, in 2015, Norris became the British Formula 4 champion (which at the time was called MAS Formula) racing for Carlin. In 2016, the Brit piled up 3 titles: the Toyota Racing Series (which is contested in New Zealand), the Formula Renault Northern European Cup (contested only at circuits in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium), and Formula Renault 2.0 (contested across Europe).

In early 2017 he became a member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme, and that same year he made his first full season in Formula 3 racing for Carlin. Over the 30 races, Norris reached the podium 20 times, and claimed 9 wins and 8 pole positions, securing the championship title with two races to spare. In 2018, he competed in Formula 2 alongside Brazilian Sérgio Sette Câmara, also at Carlin. Norris failed to become champion in the main access category to Formula 1, taking the runner-up spot, losing to George Russell and staying ahead of Alex Albon (3rd) and Nyck De Vries (4th), as well as Nicholas Latifi who also competed that season and finished 9th. In 2018 he also became a reserve driver for McLaren.

Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, also won a few titles in his karting days, however they were all at the national levels, such as the South Australian Junior Championship and the Victorian State Junior Championship, both in 2014. Although in 2017 he competed in the Emirates Formula 4 and also the British Formula 4, where he secured the runner-up spot. Piastri only returned to the championship in 2019 when he won the Formula Renault Eurocup.

However, despite going a few years without winning titles, the Australian finally showed his potential and won major championships in a row. In 2020, he became Formula 3 champion in a close race against Theo Pourchaire and Logan Sargeant. In 2021, he competed in Formula 2 for Prema Racing, replacing Mick Schumacher, with Robert Shwartzman as his teammate. In 23 races contested, Piastri won five and secured 11 podiums, winning the title with a 60.5-point lead over second-placed Shwartzman.

With the F2 title secured, Piastri joined a select group of drivers who were champions in their very first year in the category: Rosberg, Hamilton, Hülkenberg, Leclerc and Russell. He was the first driver to win three consecutive championships in the access categories, with Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, Formula 3 in 2020, and Formula 2 in 2021.

What to expect for 2023?

If it's up to the drivers, McLaren can expect 2023 to be better than 2022 was. However, the team also needs to deliver a car that lives up to the talent of its duo.

For the first time since making his Formula One debut in 2019, Norris will be the team's oldest driver, and clearly the leader now. McLaren will remain extremely focused on helping him develop and fight for podiums and wins in the future. However, Piastri has not just arrived to be second driver and squire, as the young Australian will also want to show service and will not take his foot off for his teammate. A 'heated' dispute, as it is expected between Ocon and Gasly at Alpine, is unlikely but McLaren will need a lot of wisdom to manage their still very young driver duo, giving them freedom and, at the same time, needing both of them to work for the team.

It will definitely be worth keeping an eye on McLaren's duo for next season.