“Our relationship hasn’t really changed,” Oscar says. “The competitive environment is quite different this year, yes, but our relationship is pretty much the same. The way we work together, how we try and help the team, and what we want from the car, it is all the same.
“I think we’re both very conscious that we want to have success with this team for a long time. That is not lost on either of us. Healthy competition is important, of course, but it is important to keep the team united, and I think we both have that in the back of our minds.”
Heading into the summer break, Oscar leads the Drivers’ Championship by nine points, having picked up six wins, 12 podiums and four Poles.
Now in his third F1 season, Oscar has built a reputation as one of the sport’s calmest characters, and when asked, says he feels he’s dealt with the weight of a title challenge well so far. However, he cautions that the Championship picture will take on greater weight in the final 10 races.
“I would say I’ve handled it well, but this has been the part of the year when the pressure isn’t really on in the Championship fight,” he says. “Obviously, you don’t want to give away points, but it has been far too early to be thinking of the season in that way. At this stage, you just want to go into the weekend trying to get the most out of it as you can, rather than thinking of the Championship overall.
“So yes, I think I’ve handled it well, but I haven’t concentrated on it much. The pressure is only going to increase from here. When we get to the latter part of the year, that is when the pressure will ramp up.”