Oscar Piastri plays down fears of fan backlash at Lando Norris’ home race

Lando Norris has urged fans to “embrace everyone and to support everyone” at the upcoming British Grand Prix, despite his intense championship title battle with his team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Piastri was asked during the press conference in Austria if he was prepared for a potentially hostile reception from fans at Norris’ home race at Silverstone. 

“I mean, I certainly hope that part’s not going to happen,” Norris responded before his team-mate. “The British fans are normally very accepting for all of us and especially for us as McLaren. So I think the first point should be for all the fans to embrace everyone and to support everyone.”

The Australian driver isn’t concerned with the possible reception from fans. 

“I don’t think so. A couple of years ago they were chanting my name in the crowd, so that was unexpected,” Piastri explained. “I’m not sure I’ll quite get that again, which is fair enough. I feel like the fans in general this year have been a bit nicer to us.

“We didn’t even have Max Verstappen fans booing us today, so that was a nice change. They’ve always been very accepting of me. Obviously, I race for a British team, and I think they’re big fans of everything Papaya, and that includes both of us. I’m expecting there to be a lot more Lando fans than my fans, but that’s fair. It’s his home race as well, so I think it’ll be fine.”

Norris took the victory in Austria on the back of his crash with Piastri during the Canadian Grand Prix. He now trails leader Piastri in the drivers’ standings by just 15 points. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Despite the intense ongoing championship battle, Norris doesn’t feel any additional pressure going into his home race.

“Certainly, for me, I don’t think there’s any more pressure,” he added.

“Of course, it’s a place I want to win more than anywhere else, but it doesn’t change anything. It just puts a bit more of a smile on my face every morning when I wake up. It probably distracts me in a good way more than anything.

“Now I’ve got my own grandstand, and I’ve got more reasoning for different things. More of a positive distraction, I would say, more than a pressure. There’s pressure in every race. There’s pressure to win today, to be on pole yesterday. I don’t think I can put myself under any more pressure. That doesn’t change anything.

“More just something to look forward to, to enjoy every day, enjoy every lap, enjoy the experience, because it’s still for me an experience to have my own grandstand, to have so many of my fans there supporting me, cheering me on. Very excited for it. Kind of want to go there now, but I could do with a good sleep as well.”

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place on 4-6 July.