Lando Norris hopes that his McLaren teammate and championship rival, Oscar Piastri, receives a fair and welcoming reception from the home crowd at the British Grand Prix this weekend as their title battle continues at Silverstone.
With the Drivers` Championship increasingly looking like a duel between the two McLaren drivers, Norris and Piastri are separated by only 15 points. Norris closed the gap and set the stage for his home race by winning the Austrian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of the championship leader, Piastri.
As a title contender, Norris is expected to have significant support at Silverstone. This year, for the first time, he even has a dedicated grandstand named after him, the fully booked `Landostand` at Stowe corner, seating 10,000 fans.
During the post-race press conference on Sunday, after the team`s fourth one-two finish of the season, Piastri was asked if he was worried about facing hostility from the crowd at Norris`s home race.
Norris responded first, expressing his strong hope that no such hostility would occur.
He added that British fans are typically very accepting towards all drivers, particularly those from McLaren.
Norris urged fans to be supportive and welcoming towards all competitors.
Piastri, who joined McLaren in 2023, stated that he has generally felt well-supported by the Silverstone crowd, although he understands Norris will naturally have more fans cheering for him at his home event.
Piastri recalled receiving unexpected cheers and chants from the crowd a few years ago.
He acknowledged he might not receive the same level of personal cheering this time, which he finds reasonable, noting that fans seem to have been kinder to McLaren drivers this year overall.
Piastri mentioned it was a positive change that even Max Verstappen`s fans weren`t booing them recently, reiterating that he has generally felt accepted by the fans.
He attributed the support partly to racing for a British team, believing fans appreciate the “papaya” (McLaren`s colour scheme) which includes both drivers. He anticipates a significantly larger following for Norris but accepts this as fair, given it`s Norris`s home Grand Prix.
Officials for the British Grand Prix also do not anticipate any issues with crowd behaviour.
Stuart Pringle, Silverstone`s managing director, expressed confidence, stating that fans at Silverstone appreciate good competition, highlighting the exciting battle between the two McLaren teammates.
He added that the fans attending are knowledgeable and passionate about the sport.
Pringle concluded that Silverstone consistently provides excellent racing, continuing a legacy of 75 years, particularly with current Formula 1 cars.
`A place I want to win more than anywhere else`
Norris`s recent impressive victory over Piastri at the Red Bull Ring positions him as a likely favourite for the Silverstone race. He has achieved second and third place finishes there in the last two seasons.
However, a strong opportunity for a home win was missed last year due to strategic errors during a race affected by changing weather.
A year later, as he prepares for his seventh British GP appearance, Norris shared his excitement.
He described it as the best race of the year and mentioned his excitement about having his own grandstand.
In the press conference, he added that he doesn`t feel increased pressure, stating that while winning at Silverstone is a strong desire, it doesn`t change his approach, merely adding to his enthusiasm each morning.
Norris feels the excitement, including having his dedicated grandstand, serves as a positive distraction rather than adding pressure.
