Before the 2025 Formula 1 season began, many were surprised when British bookmakers listed Lando Norris as a stronger contender for the title than Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time champion.
Norris acknowledged this new status in interviews before the season started, but his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, quietly stated that he was also preparing to compete for the title. Piastri was considered less likely by bookmakers compared to Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
However, after just four races of the 24-race season, Piastri has surpassed Norris as the favorite, even though he is currently behind Norris by three points in the driver standings.
While it`s not guaranteed that the title battle will be solely between the two McLaren drivers, as Verstappen of Red Bull and Russell of Mercedes are close behind, this quick shift in who is considered the favorite is definitely interesting.
Ahead of the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, we will examine why Norris has quickly gone from being seen as McLaren`s primary hope to being the underdog within his own team.
Can Norris Handle the Pressure?
Lando Norris`s speed has never been questioned when it comes to his potential to become a world champion. Although he may not be quite at Verstappen`s level, like most of the drivers, he demonstrated last year that he can dominate races if he has the fastest car, as he tried to catch up to Verstappen.
However, he also didn`t win several races in 2024 where he seemed to have a slight speed advantage. This raised questions about whether he sometimes hinders himself. A recurring problem was losing the lead at the race start. Norris also publicly expressed self-doubt and admitted he felt inferior to Verstappen on several occasions.
The expectation was that experiencing consistent front-running competition would prepare Norris for a major opportunity in 2025. Early signs were promising when he achieved pole position at the first race in Australia and then won the race in very challenging conditions.
After that win, Russell made interesting comments, suggesting McLaren had an even greater advantage than Red Bull had during their dominant 2023 season. Russell also mentioned he had more hope of competing for wins because, unlike Red Bull, McLaren doesn`t have Verstappen.
It was also noted that Russell frequently mentioned Norris`s status as the favorite when they met during press events and in the paddock, which seemed to irritate Norris.
Norris struggled in China, only getting one point in the Sprint race and then finishing second to Piastri in the main race. He performed better than his teammate in Japan but again finished second, this time behind Verstappen, who surprisingly beat the McLarens.
Verstappen later said that if he had been driving a McLaren, he would have easily won in Suzuka. He reiterated this before the Bahrain race. Norris felt obligated to respond to Verstappen`s statements but then had another poor performance, qualifying sixth and finishing third in the race after a difficult run.
After qualifying, Norris said he felt `clueless` and `like he had never driven a Formula 1 car before.` Only Norris knows how much his rivals` comments are affecting him, but it`s clear they are trying to increase the pressure on him.
Norris`s Perspective on the Issue
Despite acknowledging that McLaren has the fastest car, Norris has been hinting at issues and dissatisfaction with its performance since the season`s first weekend.
After being clearly outperformed by Piastri in Bahrain, he went further, stating that he is `not connecting` with the car and therefore not performing `anywhere near his potential`.
Norris explained, `I can`t do the laps I was doing last season. I knew every corner, everything the car would do, how it would react. I felt completely in control.`
`This year, it`s been the opposite so far. Even in Australia, despite winning, I never felt truly confident.`
`The car is just incredibly fast, which helps me overcome many issues. But I`m not performing to my full capability, which is frustrating to admit.`
`I am confident in my abilities—I know I have what it takes. But when you lack confidence in the car, in knowing the limits, what to do in slow and fast corners, I will never be as fast as I need to be.`
It`s evident Norris believes his early-season inconsistencies are due to his relationship with the MCL39. However, his choice to be so open about his struggles is quite unusual.
Martin Brundle from Sky Sports F1 commented in Bahrain, `We must remember that when we are disappointed in life, we don`t have cameras and millions watching us. Lando manages his disappointment by being self-critical when he`s frustrated. That`s how he deals with it. We are all different.`
`I think he also tries to reduce pressure on himself by saying he`s performing poorly, perhaps to lessen criticism. But using words like clueless—he`s near the top of the championship! He`s clearly not clueless; he`s one of the best in the world right now.`
`The problem with this approach is that it encourages his rivals. Piastri, Leclerc, and Verstappen might see this as a weakness they can exploit.`
Piastri`s Progress Surpasses Expectations
Perhaps the biggest challenge for Norris is Piastri`s progress. Piastri seems to have made significant improvements early in his third F1 season.
Last season, Norris outperformed Piastri in qualifying 21-3, but this season, it`s even at 2-2 after four races, and Piastri outqualified Norris in the China Sprint. Norris also seemed to have better race pace than Piastri in 2024, but that`s not evident this season.
Piastri has put more pressure on Norris when following him in Australia and Japan than Norris managed when following Piastri in China. Piastri won convincingly in Shanghai and even more dominantly in Bahrain, becoming the first driver to win twice this season.
Piastri`s only setback was a spin in the rain in Melbourne, which cost him at least a second-place finish at his home race. However, his strong response, leading to a ninth-place finish, has quickly made up for lost ground.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella made a notable admission after the Bahrain race, suggesting that their 2025 car might suit Piastri`s driving style better than Norris`s.
Stella mentioned, `We know we`ve made car changes that have made things a bit harder for Lando technically. Lando is adapting to this, and it might be slightly favoring Oscar. We are working together to resolve this.`
Despite this, McLaren has produced a car this year that is clearly faster than the competition, at least at this point in the season. If Piastri continues to achieve dominant wins like in Bahrain, Stella is unlikely to want to significantly change the MCL39.
Regardless of car characteristics, Piastri seems to have improved his one-lap speed and tire management during races, which were key areas for improvement.
“Piastri Is Unfazed by Anything”
Although some questioned Piastri`s speed, he has shown remarkable composure since his debut in 2023.
There`s a significant difference in how the McLaren drivers handle things. Piastri reveals very little to the media, regardless of his performance.
While Norris`s approach is more engaging and helpful for journalists, Piastri seems to navigate race weekends with less stress than his teammate.
Before the Bahrain race, Martin Brundle commented, `Piastri has the speed, talent, and is gaining experience and comfort with the McLaren team.`
`I`ve spent some time with him this week, and he`s as calm off-track as he is on the track. This mental calmness will be beneficial, especially on days like today when he`s on pole.`
`I don`t think anything fazes him, and this mental strength will really show this season.`
As Brundle suggests, Piastri`s approach and demeanor are unlikely to change because of his new status.
While Norris insists his issue is with the car, it will be interesting to see if becoming the underdog, even slightly, will help him regain his best performance in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
