McLaren s Norris nervous and excited about title fight with Piastri

Lando Norris is relishing the prospect of battling teammate Oscar Piastri for the Formula One drivers title and says McLaren are ready for any tension that arises.

Pole-sitter Piastri led Norris in a McLaren one-two at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, a week after Norris finished top in the season-opener in Australia.

Norris said his car did not have the pace to catch Piastri in Shanghai, and he ended up glad to finish second ahead of Mercedes George Russell with fading brakes in the closing laps.

But the Briton expects closer battles with his Australian teammate as the season progresses.

I think were both excited - probably nervous and excited at the same time - as Im sure the team will be, said Norris.

But were ready. We know that as much as we work together and we have a good time and enjoy ourselves, we both know we want to try and beat each other and show whos best.

And thats inevitable. So theres no point trying to hide away from that fact or make something of it.

With 44 points from the first two rounds, Norris leads the race for the drivers title ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on April 6, eight points clear of Red Bulls defending champion Max Verstappen, who was fourth in China.

Norris remains the bookmakers favourite to win the championship ahead of Piastri, who trails his teammate by 10 points after a costly slide at Albert Park saw him settle for ninth at his home Grand Prix.

While Verstappen won a fourth consecutive drivers title last year, Norris and Piastri won six races between them to ensure McLaren took the constructors championship.

As the McLaren drivers scrap for race wins, they will also need to help each other to