David Croft Suggests McLaren Should Prioritize Lando Norris Over Oscar Piastri
F1 commentator David Croft believes it's time for McLaren to pick a number one driver, hinting Lando Norris should take precedence over Oscar Piastri. This comes amid McLaren's struggle to keep pace with dominant teams like Mercedes.
David Croft, the well-known F1 commentator, recently voiced his opinion that McLaren should reconsider their driver strategy. As the team grapples with Mercedes' dominant form in the 2026 season, Croft argues that McLaren can no longer afford to treat Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as equals. Instead, he suggests that the team should designate Norris as their leading driver.
The backdrop to Croft's comments is the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris clinched his first win of the season. Meanwhile, his teammate Oscar Piastri faced a disappointing retirement due to a gearbox failure. Throughout the season, Piastri has struggled to match Norris' pace, which has prompted Croft to call for a shift in team dynamics.
Historically, McLaren has treated both drivers as equals, an approach that has helped them in previous title campaigns. However, as McLaren's competitiveness fades, Croft believes it's time for a strategic recalibration. "Oscar Piastri is a fine driver," Croft remarked during an episode of The F1 Show, "but consistently, over race weekends, he hasn’t matched Lando’s pace."
Croft's suggestion is not without merit. During the Hungarian Grand Prix, team orders were in play, yet Norris demonstrated his capability by overtaking Piastri without any tactical help. Croft commended McLaren's strategy but emphasized that Piastri must step up if he wants to challenge Norris.
With Mercedes showing signs of fragility and Ferrari's strategies under scrutiny, Croft believes McLaren has an opportunity to capitalize. However, doing so might require them to back Norris more explicitly. "The constructors’ championship is still open," Croft noted, hinting that focusing on Norris might yield better results.
As McLaren heads into the latter half of the season, the question remains whether they will heed Croft's advice and prioritize Norris. With the drivers' championship still within reach, the team's decision could significantly impact the season's outcome.