Oscar Piastri found himself at the center of lively banter from England’s ‘Barmy Army’ during The Ashes cricket tournament in Melbourne, where chants compared him to Lando Norris in the ongoing Lando Norris F1 rivalry. This exchange came just after the completion of the F1 2025 season, highlighting the public rivalry between Piastri and his McLaren teammate, Norris.
Ashes Encounter Unveils Sporting Rivalry
Following the conclusion of the F1 2025 campaign, Piastri returned to his hometown of Melbourne and attended The Ashes, a storied cricket contest held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England. The series, contested over five matches every two years, witnessed Australia facing their first loss after a strong start that left them leading 3-0. During the match, England’s energetic supporters, famously known as ‘The Barmy Army,’ made their presence felt, repeatedly chanting,
“You’re just a sh*t Lando Norris”
towards Piastri.
Piastri, who had lost his bid for the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship to teammate Lando Norris, received the jibes with good humor. According to reports from Fox Sports Australia, Piastri responded to the chants by smiling and even appeared to join in the laughter, showcasing his ability to take the banter sportingly as he walked around the stadium boundary.
Piastri’s Strong F1 Season Marred by Late Setbacks
The 2025 Formula 1 season saw Oscar Piastri take an early lead in the Drivers’ Championship, underscoring his emergence as a top contender. However, a troubling six-race stretch without a podium finish allowed both Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to overtake his standing. Ultimately, Piastri finished third in the final rankings, trailing Norris by just 13 points—an indicator of the fierce competition between the McLaren teammates.
Despite surrendering his championship hopes, Piastri earned recognition from McLaren’s leadership and his main rival. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, previously labeled Piastri as a ‘future World Champion.’ Piastri himself acknowledged the need for self-improvement after losing out to Norris and reiterated a commitment to focus on his development for the 2026 season.
Mutual Respect Among Teammates
In the aftermath of his maiden championship victory, Norris offered a candid assessment of his rivalry with Piastri. Speaking with Sky F1, Norris reflected on how Piastri’s arrival elevated his own performance within the team context, in ways he hadn’t experienced previously with teammates such as Daniel Ricciardo or Carlos Sainz.
“I’m glad I’ve had Oscar the last three years, because even though he’s still a lot newer to it than me, I’ve learned a lot from him, and he showed me up at many times,”
Norris told Sky F1.
The dynamic within McLaren has intensified, particularly as both drivers pushed each other throughout the year. Norris discussed how Piastri’s consistency forced him to reassess and adapt his approach, both on and off the track, to remain competitive for the title.
“That’s not just driving better on track. There’s a lot of other things that go on in the background that I had to do personally to make myself better, to make myself more resilient, in all the cases, to get more out of myself, whether that’s the delta lap time and the little things that no one’s going to know for years,”
Norris continued.
The friendly rivalry, though fierce, is punctuated by mutual growth. Piastri’s rapid progression at McLaren shaped Norris’s own journey, with both drivers enhancing the team’s collective performance and strategy amid the relentless competition for championship points. The McLaren leadership, including team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown, had the challenge of managing two strong competitors under one banner, acknowledging that internal battles inevitably make strategies and outcomes more complex.
“I learned a lot. I’ve enjoyed it a lot, and sadly, I’ve got a lot more seasons with him in the future, so I look forward to those tough moments as well,”
Norris added with a grin about the future of their partnership.
Looking Ahead: Banter, Respect, and the Next Season
The lively exchanges between Oscar Piastri and England’s sports fans demonstrate the intersection of international rivalries, both on the cricket field and within Formula 1. As Piastri cheerfully accepted the ‘Barmy Army’ chants, the episode highlighted the passionate following F1 drivers receive and how these athletes are thrust into broader competitive narratives beyond racing.
While the banter leaned into the playful side of sporting competition, the closing of the 2025 season has set the stage for further drama in Formula 1. The mutual respect between Norris and Piastri bodes well for McLaren as the organization looks to build on its successes. With Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and other challengers looming, the ongoing Lando Norris F1 rivalry with Oscar Piastri is expected to remain a central storyline when the new season begins, promising more intense battles and memorable moments on and off the track.
