Oscar Piastri has admitted that he does “completely understand” why Lando Norris receives upgrades first, with the rookie having often received them a race after the British driver.
Norris has received preferential treatment this season when it comes to receiving upgrades, with McLaren having prioritised the more experienced driver.
This has been the case when the Woking-based side have introduced both of their major upgrade packages, in Austria and Singapore.
McLaren fitted a massive upgrades package to Norris’ MCL60 at the Austrian Grand Prix, which has completely turned around the British team’s season.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Piastri had to wait until the following round to receive the same parts, with the same having happened just a few weeks ago.
Norris was fitted with the team’s next big package at the Singapore Grand Prix, whilst Piastri had to wait until the following round at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Given that he is a rookie and Norris is in his fifth year with the team, the 23-year-old being given parts before Piastri does make sense, although this hasn’t necessarily always been the case.
McLaren have tended to fit Norris with the bigger upgrades first, although Piastri was given their new rear wing before his team-mate at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break.
Piastri is quick to note that McLaren do try to keep it “as fair as we can”, with him using the new rear wing in Zandvoort as an example of that.
“Of course it would be great if we could both have it, but I completely understand why Lando gets them,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365 ahead of the recent Japanese GP.
“But in saying that, we try and keep it as fair as we can.
READ: Daniel Ricciardo makes ‘doesn’t help my reputation’ admission
“At Zandvoort, I had the new rear-wing first so [it’s important] that it is not all one-sided.”
Like Norris, Piastri has often made the most of the upgrades when he’s received them, especially at Suzuka.
Piastri qualified on the front row of the grid and went onto claim his maiden Formula 1 podium, after finishing third behind race winner Max Verstappen and Norris, meaning the Aussie completed a famous McLaren 2-3.