Why it matters:
The once-clear path to the championship for Oscar Piastri at McLaren has become a fiercely contested internal battle, with Lando Norris mounting a strong comeback. This shift highlights the intense psychological and technical demands of an F1 season.
The big picture:
Early in the season, after Lando Norris won in Australia, Oscar Piastri dominated by securing four victories in the subsequent five races, appearing to be on a "slam dunk" trajectory for the title. However, Norris has since claimed four wins to Piastri's two in the following eight events, narrowing Piastri's championship lead to just nine points.
The details:
- F1 commentator Alex Brundle noted on the Red Flags podcast that he initially expected Piastri to handle the pressure better due to his perceived calmness.
- Norris, despite early mental pressure discussions, delivered "lightning" performances with no mistakes, especially in Monaco.
- Brundle credits Norris's ability to "find the right mode" under pressure and McLaren's engineering team for providing a "better feel" in the front steering for circuits Norris struggles with.
- Both drivers emphasize minimizing mistakes over outright speed for championship success.
What's next:
Brundle anticipates the championship fight will go "to the wire" in Abu Dhabi, describing the final race as the ultimate "psychological test" where the pressure for a "win or lose" moment will be at its peak.