Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri | F1 Driving Style Rivalry

This is the driving style rivalry of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

These are the key differences in driving style. Lando Norris is a smooth oversteer driver, but is quite neutral in preferring oversteer or understeer. Oscar Piastri is the smoother driver of the pair, also learning towards the side of oversteer. Norris is a late braker, whereas Piastri likes to settle the car into corners smoothly by braking early. Norris takes a more V-shaped racing line, while Piastri takes a more U-shaped racing line. Lando gains time on entry, while Piastri gains time in the mid-corner. 

But before we get into the telemetry data to compare their driving styles, we have to look at their motor racing history. Both drivers progressed the traditional path to F1, working their way up from karting, then F4, F3 and F2. Early on, they trained their reflexes with the edgy and agile formula cars, adopting aggressive driving styles. However, they have collectively dialled down their aggression to meet the needs of the sensitive and soft F1 cars. 

To really understand and compare their driving styles, we have to look at the telemetry data.

On entry, Norris brakes hard and late into the corner, carrying a high early-entry speed. He is aggressive when inducing rotation, inducing a lot of oversteer on the entry phase. On the contrary, Piastri is an early braker and tends to induce a bit more understeer on entry, neutralising the car’s natural oversteer. He settles the car into the corner smoothly, loading the tyres up over a longer period of time. Piastri also trailbrakes less, carrying a higher late-entry speed. Norris tends to gain more time on entry, being more aggressive on the brakes, but loses some time in the mid-corner.

Now onto the mid-corner. At the start of the 2024 season,  Piastri was inclined to let off the brakes and coast before getting back onto the throttle, whereas Norris would brake deep into the apex and overlap the pedals when getting back onto the throttle. Nowadays, Piastri is more aggressive on the pedals and trails the brakes deeper into the corner, taking a slightly more V-shaped line like early 2024 Norris. Despite this, Piastri still leans towards using one pedal at a time, being less active on the pedals, where Norris is more aggressive on the pedals and steering. 

Piastri is the smoother driver in the mid-corner, keeping his steering gradual and consistent, rolling speed through the mid-corner phase. Piastri gains time in the mid-corner, carrying a higher and more consistent minimum speed, where Norris loses time. This is due to Norris’ slightly more V-shaped line –  rotating the car more in the mid-corner by having a lower minimum speed –, although this gives him a better exit. 

In terms of apexing, Piastri takes an earlier apex than Norris, reaching his minimum speed before Norris. He sets the car up for a better exit, getting onto the throttle earlier.

On exit, Piastri is typically earlier to get on the throttle. He carries a more consistent speed in the mid-corner and introduces more speed quite gradually. On the contrary, Norris is later to 100% throttle, going hard on the rear tyres under acceleration.

It must be noted that their driving styles have changed over the course of 2024. Overall, Piastri is the smoother driver, but he has adapted his style to suit the McLaren more. Initially, he took U-shaped lines unlike Norris, who took V-shaped lines. However, Piastri then started to be more inclined towards V-shaped lines as well. Peter Windsor noted that he was starting to be more aggressive on the pedals, emulating Norris’ driving style.

Overall, Norris is the more aggressive driver into corners, braking hard and late, deep into the apex. He gains time on entry, rotates the car quickly in the mid-corner yet remains somewhat smooth with the steering. In late 2023, he said in an interview that he preferred U-shaped lines, yet the McLaren forced him to adapt to V-shaped lines. This has impacted his driving style, as he is now used to using V-shaped lines to corner quickly in the McLaren. With Piastri also adapting to the McLaren’s style, both drivers are undoubtedly quick and have an innate feel for the limit of grip.