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Inside McLaren, the battle for supremacy is heating up. With the championship on the line, Oscar Piastri has admitted he wants to drive more aggressively to fight back against teammate Lando Norris. And there’s no better place to test that mindset than Interlagos, a circuit that rewards courage, commitment, and just the right amount of risk.
Where aggression makes the difference
São Paulo’s sinuous layout favours drivers who attack the corners. The first sector, beginning with the plunge into the Senna S and the long drag to Turn 4, is tailor-made for late brakers and confident throttle work. Piastri’s natural style, smooth, precise, almost surgical, works brilliantly on technical circuits like Suzuka. But at Interlagos, playing it too safe costs time.
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The short lap amplifies every mistake and every advantage. Norris tends to be stronger through the final two sectors, using sharper steering angles and letting the car slide slightly to generate traction. Piastri’s new, more assertive approach could close that gap, particularly in the second sector, where small gains in rotation can unlock three tenths per lap.
Managing tyres in short stints
Aggression comes at a cost, especially in a Sprint weekend where tyre temperatures and short sessions make the difference between hero and zero. Norris typically heats his tyres faster, giving him the edge early in races. Piastri, who preserves rubber better over long stints, often takes a few laps to reach peak grip.
That’s where his “aggressive reset” could pay off. McLaren engineers have encouraged him to run sharper differential settings and a more responsive throttle map, improving front-end bite on corner entry. “Oscar wants to push harder from lap one,” said team principal Andrea Stella. “Interlagos is a place that rewards that kind of mindset.”
The Senna S factor
Turn 1 is the great equaliser. It’s where every Interlagos race begins and, often, where it’s decided. Gaining one position through the Senna S can be worth much more than a tenth, it shapes track position all the way to Turn 4 thanks to DRS.
Norris is famous for his measured braking, but Piastri has shown flashes of daring this year, notably with his bold moves in Austria and Austin. At Interlagos, that bravery could define his weekend. Starting on the dirty side of the grid makes it tougher, but a confident lunge on lap one could change his title trajectory.
Freedom to fight
McLaren has made clear that both drivers remain free to race as long as they keep it clean. With the Constructors’ title already secured, there’s no reason to hold back. “We trust them,” Stella said. “They have different strengths, and we want both to use them.”
That open dynamic adds spice to an already intense rivalry. Norris has the edge in points, but Piastri’s hunger is obvious. Interlagos, with its stop-start rhythm and unpredictable weather, is the perfect place for an all-out fight, one that could shift momentum heading into Las Vegas.
Why aggression finally pays off
Interlagos is not about playing it safe. The elevation changes, quick transitions and short DRS zones reward commitment over caution. With rain expected on Saturday and a drying track on Sunday, drivers who build temperature early and attack the kerbs will be the ones dictating the pace.
Piastri’s push for more aggression isn’t just bravado. It’s a calculated evolution. And if he nails the balance between confidence and control, Brazil could be the weekend that reignites his title campaign and reshapes McLaren’s internal hierarchy once again.
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