Lando Norris has conceded that an on-track clash with F1 title rival ꧂and McLaren teammate Oscꦉar Piastri is “inevitable”.

After nine rounds in F1 2025, just 10 points separate the McLa𝓡ren duo at the top of the drivers’ championship.

Pﷺiastri has won five of the opening nine races, meaning the momentum is firmly on his side.

However, Norris is still within touching distance of his teammate despite a below-par start to🐻 the year.

Norris’ campaign has been littered with errors, part💛icularly in qualifying.

Lately, Norris has become more comfortable with the MCL39, even if he was outpaced by Piastri inౠ Barcelona last time.

The pair have yet to💫 go head-to-head on track, besides a bri𝔍ef tussle at Imola, but Norris was on considerably better tyres.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, Norris admitted that an incident with Piasꦐtri will likely happen ▨at some point as they fight for the title.

“We’ve never said we’re going t💖⛦o avoid everything,” Norris said.

“I think we’ve actually been quite open in saying at some point something is probably going to happen. We just have to🍬 be ready for that. Both Oscar and myself know we’re competitive and want to beat each other.

“The main thing is that we stay strong together as a team but everything is in the open, evꦫerything is obvious and known between us. We both want to win. We both want to beat each other but at the end of the day there can only be one person whoever performs the best over the course of 𓆏the year.

“It’s not an if, it’s a when and we will see when that comes. Of course, we will try and avoid everything as much🐠 as possible. It’s inevitable that it happens in racing.”

Norris acknowledges Piastri improvement

Piastri has made a remarka🅺ble improvement over the winter break.

Norris w🍨on the 🅘qualifying head-to-head against Piastri 20-4.

After just nine races in 2025, Piastri has already ou🉐t-qualified Norris five times - more than he did in the whole of last year.

Norris is unsu💫rprised to see Piastri🐼 take a step forward.

“He’s going to have improved in most areas,” Norris🏅 added. “He’s in his third sea༒son of F1 and I remember in my third season you just come into the year a little bit more confident and with a bit more knowledge, and a more complete driver. That’s what he’s done. He’s performing well.

“He’s driving incredibly well at a very, very high level. He deserves everything he’s doin🌌g at the minute. I💙t’s a good, fun rivalry between us.”