Lando Norris not 'worried' by McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri's threat in world driver championship title hunt
Lando Norris is not worried about his position in the world drivers' championship, despite conceding he "needs to get a move on" to remain a shot of winning the title.
Norris finished second overall last season to four-time champion Max Verstappen but has since sent a clear warning that he will be a major threat in the title contest in 2025.
But the Brit's recent run has positioned him back in second place this season as his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri has surged to claim three of five opening race wins.
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McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri talk ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. Bryn Lennon/ Formula 1 via Getty Images
Norris held the championship lead over his teammate until the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with just 10 points currently separating the pair on the standings.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown conceded that it is "inevitable" a fierce rivalry between his two drivers will develop on the track at some point in the season.
However, Norris has been struggling to get the best out of his car during qualifying runs.
Given the fight for the title is only six races into the 24 scheduled this season, Norris insisted he is not concerned by Piastri's success.
"Not worried at all," Norris said.
"He's (Piastri) doing a good job and he deserves it, nothing more than that.
Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia at the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan. Getty
"No reason to be worried. I can't say that forever. I know I need to get a move on, but I'm trying to improve and the speed is there.
"The race pace is there, it is just one thing I need to tidy up. It's a difficult thing but I am confident I will get it."
Norris, 25, said there were certain characteristics of the car that "don't allow me to feel what I need to feel" and are preventing him from driving at the level he should be at.
Such characteristics are mainly related to Norris' frustrations with the car losing front grip into corners instead of allowing a sharper turn action to occur.
"Those things are what allow me to drive to the level I can drive at, to get pole positions and drive at the highest level in racing," he said.
"We're talking about small things. When we're talking about qualifying at hundredths and thousandths of seconds, that's what I'm complaining about.
"Clearly I've made some mistakes and (am) not at the level I need to be, but I believe I can be at the level soon enough.
"It's a difficult thing but I am confident I will get it."
McLaren's Lando Norris (4) leads Oscar Piastri (81) on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan. Getty
Norris recognised that there has been slight changes to the car from last year, though he is not going to "waste (his) time on" discovering if they were to better suit Piastri.
"He is maybe more naturally able to adapt and I also think it is a driver's job to adapt," Norris continued.
"It's clear there have been some changes, and whether it's suited Oscar or whether he has done a better job of adapting, that is not for me to waste my time on.
"But it has hurt me and I have not been able to be at my best level - the level I was on at the end of last season.
"I don't just want to rely on [the upcoming changes to the car this season], there are things I am working myself, and hopefully, that will be a better fix.
"It takes time, some of these things, so I just will keep my head down and work on my things."
Norris and Piastri will return to the grid on Saturday AEST for the first practice session before taking on sprint qualifying in the afternoon.
