Norris questions Piastri's status as a 'top driver'.

      "A distinct trend is noticeable over several weekends."

      Former Formula 1 driver Christijan Albers has raised doubts about whether McLaren’s title-contending drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, truly rank among the elite in the sport, suggesting that both fall short of the "absolute top" level. In an interview with De Telegraaf, the Dutch analyst stated that he considers Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc as the current standout drivers in F1, placing McLaren’s duo outside this group. "In my view, three drivers shine at the moment: Verstappen, Russell, and Leclerc," Albers remarked. "This doesn’t mean Piastri and Norris are poor drivers. However, they aren’t at the absolute peak."

      Albers further mentioned that Piastri’s reputation for calmness is overstated. "People claim he’s very composed, but that mainly pertains to his attitude," he noted. "He crashed twice in Baku, had a false start, and didn’t display anything remarkable in Singapore." He also pointed out Norris's inconsistency when under pressure. "A distinct pattern becomes evident over numerous weekends," Albers stated. "He usually starts strong, but often loses positions. This is particularly noticeable during qualifying, where, when Verstappen delivers a solid lap in Q3, Norris tends to get anxious and makes errors."

      The former Minardi and Spyker driver also directed his critique at McLaren as a team. "Operationally, there are several issues occurring there," he mentioned. "And I believe the drivers aren’t maximizing their potential either."