As anticipation builds for the 2025 British Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri has played down concerns about a hostile reception from British fans at Silverstone, despite teammate Lando Norris closing in on his championship lead.
Oscar Piastri, who sits just 15 points ahead of Norris after the latter’s Austrian GP victory, insisted he is not worried about any negative crowd reaction at Silverstone.
“I don’t think so. A couple of years ago they were chanting my name in the crowd, so that was unexpected,” Piastri told the media when asked about the British Grand Prix crowd. “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.”
Lando Norris made a clear appeal to the home crowd: “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.”
His words come at a time when McLaren is enjoying unprecedented popularity in the United Kingdom, and both drivers are at the heart of the team’s push for the championship.
Building the Silverstone Atmosphere
The British Grand Prix is always a special occasion for Norris, who will have the majority of the home crowd behind him. Despite the intensity of their championship rivalry, Norris insists that racing at home is more of a positive distraction than a source of added pressure.
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“Certainly, for me, I don’t think there’s any more pressure,” Norris said. “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.”
Piastri, for his part, expects most of the crowd’s cheers to be aimed at his British teammate, but is looking forward to another classic Silverstone weekend.
“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,” Piastri added.
“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.”
All Eyes on Silverstone as Title Race Intensifies
As the McLaren drivers prepare for one of the most high-profile races of the season, Norris emphasized the unique experience of competing in front of his home supporters: “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.”
The 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone takes place from July 4-6, promising another electric atmosphere as Norris and Piastri continue their battle for the championship—and the hearts of the crowd.
