By Ben Tredinnick
Photo Credit: REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki/ File Photo
This weekend, Formula 1 fans are treated to not one but two major events. On one hand, the highly anticipated F1 movie makes its debut, with racing scenes filmed during past seasons adding a sense of authenticity to the film. On the other hand, the real-world championship circus is in Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Coming into this race, Oscar Piastri leads the Drivers’ Championship, narrowly ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. The McLaren cars have been the class of the field all season, so it’s no surprise to see their drivers at the sharp end. In fact, fans expected these two young stars to be in a season-long title battle from the start.
What fans also expected, however, was tension. When teammates are fighting for a championship, it’s often not if they’ll collide, but when. That moment arrived at the Canadian Grand Prix, just two weeks ago.
McLaren endured a mixed weekend in Montreal. Norris was gambling on an alternative strategy, hoping for a late safety car to swing the race in his favor. Meanwhile, Piastri had a poor launch, getting jumped by 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap. That move pushed Piastri off the podium, setting up a fierce three-way battle for third in the closing stages.
On Lap 66, the drama exploded. Heading down the main straight, Norris ran into the back of Piastri, ending his own race. Piastri somehow avoided damage and limped home in P4, extending his championship lead in the process.
This was the first incident between the two, and Lando took full responsibility for it. But has this taken the Brit out of the title fight?
Is the Championship Already Over?
There’s no doubt Lando Norris is fast. Over seven seasons with McLaren, he’s been the face of the team’s resurgence from midfield strugglers to title contenders. Yet, until 2024, he had never stood on the top step of the podium. That all changed in Miami, where he claimed his maiden victory and officially entered the title conversation.
It came at a critical time: Max Verstappen’s Red Bull dominance had begun to wane, and the playing field opened up. For a moment, it looked like the 2024 championship would go down to the wire. But it didn’t—a stellar drive from Verstappen and a crucial error by Norris in a rain-affected São Paulo GP derailed his title bid.
Still, the experience was invaluable. Coming into 2025, Norris was a clear favorite for the title.
He started strong, winning the season opener in Australia. But since then, things have gone off-script.
It’s Piastri, not Norris, who has risen to the challenge. In just his third F1 season, the Australian has shown he’s the full package: calm, fast, consistent. When given the fastest car, he’s thrived, dominating races and leaving Norris struggling to keep up.
Losing the Mental Game to the Iceman
Norris hasn’t helped his cause. Costly mistakes—and there have been several this season—have not only widened the points gap but have also taken a toll on his mentality.
In elite sport, we often talk about the “champion’s mentality”: the relentless focus, the calm under pressure, the unshakable drive to win. The best athletes in the world possess this mindset. It’s what separates contenders from champions.
Formula 1 is no exception. Winning a title is as much a mental battle as it is a physical and technical one.
And this is where Piastri holds a clear advantage. He’s quickly developed a reputation as the paddock’s new “Iceman”—unflappable, clinical, and unaffected by drama. He just gets on with the job. This composure, combined with his natural talent and the best car on the grid, gives him a commanding edge.
If he continues to deliver consistent results in the second half of the season, the 2025 World Championship is his to lose.
Second Place Again?
Norris, meanwhile, may have to settle for second place once more. His speed is unquestionable, but speed alone doesn’t win titles. Without minimizing the immense progress he’s made, he’s still searching for the final piece of the puzzle: the ability to stay error-free under pressure, week after week.
There’s still time left in the season, and plenty of points on the table. But unless Norris can turn things around quickly—both in terms of performance and mentality—the writing may already be on the wall.
Ben Tredinnick is a contributor to The MMM Journal.
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