Mika Hakkinen claims Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have ‘potential to become world champions’

While shedding light on the same in an interview with Bild, he recently said, (H/T: FormulaPassion )

I believe that Max will feel the pressure from Piastri, just as Norris will feel it. I expect a lot from McLaren: after a disastrous start to the season, they have grown well and stably. With Lando and Oscar, they have the strongest driver duo after Ferrari. They both have the potential to become world champions.

Looking at the reaction of the Hakkenen, it seems that he ardently feels, that if the McLaren duo gets extremely potent machinery underneath them, they could become world champions in the sport. Norris and Piastri are the youngest drivers pairing on the current grid.

Oscar Piastri is expected to challenge Lando Norris more in 2024

While Mika Hakkinen has showered immense praise on Norris and Piastri, the duo has only done one year together in F1. The latter was in his rookie campaign last year and initially, took his time to get up to speed with everything at McLaren.

This is one of the main reasons why the young Australian was only able to manage 97 points in the 2023 F1 season in comparison to Lando Norris’s 205. In the process of doing so, Norris was also able to amass commendable seven-podium finishes.

McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, has several times in the past made it known that in his opinion, his team has the most exciting driver pairing. Moreover, considering how well the papaya duo was able to complement each other last year, he is quite right in his assessment.

Lando Norris and Piasri are still young and have several years ahead of them. If McLaren’s 2024 car proves competitive at the front end of the grid, then there could arise situations throughout the year where both the McLaren drivers could be seen rubbing shoulders with the lights of Max Verstappen regularly.