Cover photo: speedcafe.com
Although I have been a Lando Norris fan ever since I returned to the sport, it is impossible not to admire Oscar Piastri’s brilliance since his rookie debut. Calm, sharp, and brutally efficient, he has become F1’s new Iceman, blending dry wit, sarcastic humor, and a no-drama composure. Yet the question lingers: was the secret to Piastri’s early success simply an absence of real pressure?
During his first two seasons, everyone’s eyes were on Norris, giving Piastri a get-out-of-jail-free card. Once McLaren’s dominance became undeniable, the spotlight shifted, and so did Piastri’s performance. The previously unflappable rookie began to crack under pressure.
Many fans trace the first wobble back to his home Grand Prix. Piastri slipped off the rainy track while chasing Norris, who kept the lead. The mistake cost Piastri not just second place, but a dream win in front of his home crowd. After seizing the championship lead in Saudi Arabia, Piastri looked strong, but the cracks began to show sooner than expected.
At the Canadian Grand Prix, Norris went for a daring overtake on his teammate but misjudged the space next to Oscar’s car and ended his race in the barriers. The 10th Grand Prix of the season became a stark reminder that even the more experienced drivers can falter under pressure. As Ayrton Senna once said, “If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver”. Norris gave everything, but the gamble did not pay off, leaving Piastri still ahead yet under the growing weight of expectation.
Baku was the real turning point for Piastri. A crash in qualifying left him starting ninth, and a jump-start plus a rookie-style wall hit ended his race early. He was lucky Norris could not fully capitalize, as the car did not suit the track. Singapore and COTA followed the same pattern: Norris slightly ahead, Piastri faltering, tension rising. In Mexico, Norris outscored him by fifteen points, Verstappen closed in, and for the second time this season, Piastri was behind his teammate in the standings.
This season has shown how mistakes affect the two differently. If Norris falters, he usually ends up fourth or close, but when Piastri slips up, he usually ends up in the wall. This highlights that while he is incredibly talented and has clear world-champion potential, he still has to gain experience in managing pressure. Sprint weekends make things even trickier, with a lot of points to gain or lose, and every tiny error can shift the championship standings dramatically.
Brazil only dragged Piastri deeper into the slump. He crashed in the Sprint and lost positions in the main race, while Norris delivered a perfect weekend, topping every session and both races. Brazil marked the third race-ending crash in just five rounds, underlining a worrying pattern. On top of that, Piastri has consistently shown a slight pace deficit to Norris when it has truly mattered, which left him vulnerable in tight battles. Suddenly, the calm, collected rookie appears human, and the championship fight feels like a real test of both skill and maturity.
“You’re either giving pressure or taking pressure in this sport, and that’s how it goes”, Mark Webber, Piastri’s manager and nine-time Grand Prix winner, recently stated. The quote sums up the current battle perfectly: Piastri must rise above the pressure and reclaim the championship lead, or experience will continue to favor Norris and Verstappen.
Piastri’s struggles do not exist in isolation. McLaren’s “Papaya Rules”, the team’s commitment to treat drivers equally, sounded fair, but with the title on the line, it is only adding chaos and pressure. Every pit call and minor change in strategy now magnifies the tension inside the garage.
Statistically, the remaining tracks could swing either way. Las Vegas is unlikely to suit the McLaren cars, making points the main goal. Ferrari or Verstappen are likely to take the win, forcing McLaren’s drivers to maximize every opportunity.
Three races. Three drivers. One title. Piastri must overcome the pressure, Norris must maintain his edge, while Verstappen waits for them to slip. Only one can triumph, who will rise and who will falter?
