Lando Norris continues to keep the door open for the 2025 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship, but he has not yet convinced all the experts. Among the more cautious voices is Guenther Steiner, former team principal of Haas F1 Team, who, while acknowledging the clear growth and strong recent performances of the British driver, remains firmly convinced that his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri will ultimately secure the championship title.
The turning point of the season for Lando Norris came after a disastrous retirement at the Canadian Grand Prix, triggered by a mistake that resulted in a collision with his own teammate, Oscar Piastri. That race left Norris trailing Piastri by nine points, instead of holding a one-point lead. Since then, however, the 25-year-old English driver has won three of the last four races, including a commanding victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. There, a bold one-stop strategy allowed Norris to climb from fourth place all the way to the top step of the podium, overcoming a difficult start to the race.
In contrast, Oscar Piastri, along with Charles Leclerc and George Russell, chose a more conservative two-stop strategy, which ultimately gave Norris the advantage thanks to his team’s gamble.
Guenther Steiner’s remarks on Norris
Speaking on the Red Flag podcast, Guenther Steiner emphasized that Norris’s success in Budapest was no accident, but he still does not believe that Norris has the full momentum needed to win the title. “We have an exciting championship ahead. It’s not over until it’s over, and there will be surprises. But I remain convinced that Oscar will win the title.”
Guenther Steiner also admitted that he was among those who doubted Norris’s ability to handle the pressure, but the recent results have shown otherwise. “He has won three of the last four races. It doesn’t look like he’s cracking. He is ready to fight, and it’s interesting that McLaren lets them race freely without team orders.”
With ten Grands Prix still to go in the season, the internal battle at McLaren promises fireworks, and the 2025 world championship is likely to be decided in the final race.
Leave a Reply