The 2025 Formula 1 season reaches a critical juncture with the Belgian Grand Prix marking the return to racing after a two-week break. With 12 races still to go before the summer shutdown, the Drivers’ Championship remains a fierce contest between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Piastri leads Norris by eight points, but Norris’s back-to-back wins have boosted his momentum heading into Spa, intensifying the battle for the Lando Norris Formula 1 title fight.
Insight from Formula 1 Legends on the McLaren Duel
The official Formula 1 website gathered opinions from five living legends—Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard, Johnny Herbert, and Stefan Johansson—about the season’s defining storylines, including the intense rivalry between Norris and Piastri. All of these former drivers agree that the championship fight will likely be decided in the closing races of the season.
David Coulthard Weighs in on the Title Contest
David Coulthard praised both drivers but acknowledged Piastri’s current advantage in the championship. He explained that Piastri had already established a lead before recent incidents between the McLaren teammates complicated the standings. Coulthard drew parallels to the 2021 season’s tight championship battle, where only one world champion emerged despite the strong performances of both contenders.
If it was half a World Championship, Oscar’s won, I don’t think anyone could say he hasn’t deserved to be leading – he was leading before [the McLarens] came together in Canada. But if Lando turns it around in the second half of the season, he’s doing it against someone that’s a talented third year F1 driver. It’s a bit like 2021, where some people are still so vocal about what happened… only one driver could win. Both Max and Lewis Hamilton drove like World Champions that year, but only one of them could have the title.
—David Coulthard, Former F1 Driver and Analyst
Coulthard also complimented McLaren’s management of the rivalry, noting the professionalism and temperament of both young drivers. He emphasized the importance of seizing this championship opportunity, as the future beyond 2025 remains uncertain.
I think McLaren have handled it really well. I think both their drivers are on the tamer side of animal than the wilder side of animal, so that probably makes it a little bit easier, But this could also be their only chance to win a world title; we don’t know what 2026 brings, we don’t know what the future is, so you’ve got to seize the moment. That’s why I’m really impressed with how Oscar has stepped up this year. But Lando’s response over the last two races is showing his quality as well. I think it’s going to be one of those things where both of them deserve it, but only one can get it.
—David Coulthard, Former F1 Driver and Analyst
Stefan Johansson Highlights the Role of Circumstances
Stefan Johansson suggested that the championship will likely be decided by small moments and racecraft rather than outright speed, as the two drivers appear evenly matched on pace. He cited recent penalties and incidents involving the drivers as examples of how unpredictable factors could influence the final outcome.
I think it’s going to go down to the wire. In the end, it will probably be circumstances that tip the outcome of the championship. Because speed-wise they’re so close, it’s probably going to come down to race craft, reading situations the right way, and avoiding any sort of unforced errors, if you like, Oscar had his penalty at Silverstone, which you can debate whether it was justified or not, but I think things like that, or Lando’s incident in Montreal… those are the things that are going to tip the scale at the end of the year.
—Stefan Johansson, Former F1 Driver
Mental Strength Seen as Crucial Factor by Button and Herbert
Both Jenson Button and Johnny Herbert praised Oscar Piastri’s calm and mature mental approach, contrasting it with Norris’s tendency to be self-critical. Button emphasized the psychological challenges Norris faces, especially after stretches without wins, and praised his pace despite occasional lapses.
Austria was a really important weekend for Lando. I think if it went on any longer without Lando winning, mentally it’s very tough for a driver. Especially someone like Lando, who I think can be his own worst enemy at times – he puts a lot of pressure on himself. He’s unbelievably quick, but if he makes a tiny mistake, he really takes it to heart, He’s got to realise that we all make mistakes. It happens, it’s part of racing, and more often than not you lose rather than win. I love his personality, and I really think he’s super-quick. Oscar’s a very different personality, very level-headed. Nothing seems to faze him, and that makes him a very, very difficult competitor …
—Jenson Button, 2009 F1 World Champion
Herbert echoed the importance of mindset and growth, acknowledging Norris’s improvements and Piastri’s consistent composure.
Oscar’s come into F1 in a very, very mature way, He’s got himself in a good team at the right time and he’s delivering. But then I throw it on the other side, and Lando is improving … he’s probably a later developer in some ways, but he has changed over the last couple of years. I think the incident in Canada, the positives of Austria and Silverstone … I always say it’s about capacity, and I think his brain capacity sometimes gets full up. There’s the baggage that comes with everything that’s going on, and I know from my own career, there are times where you’ve got to get rid of baggage that’s hanging around your neck. It’s going to be down to the mentality of both of them. But they’re both youngish and they’re only going to get better as time goes by, like Max has done, like Lewis did, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher… they have that wonderful ability to find a way of moving up every time the performance of the car gets better, With all the little ups and downs they’ve had, they’re still very, very close overall. It’ll only be one over the other come the end of the year.
—Johnny Herbert, Former F1 Driver
Jacques Villeneuve Discusses Psychological Turning Points in Title Race
Jacques Villeneuve highlighted how the mental aspect might shape the championship, noting the differences in approach between Norris and Piastri. He pointed out Norris’s strong speed, yet self-defeating tendencies, and mentioned how Piastri’s first penalty at Silverstone might have shifted his mindset in the title fight.
It’s great because they’re very different. Both can win it, and we don’t know which one will get the upper hand. I think Norris still has the edge speed-wise, but he’s so good at berating himself that it’s also self-damaging at some point, With Piastri, it was the first time he got a penalty at Silverstone, and that saw a bit of a change of attitude. When you’re fighting for the championship, it really changes your approach. We’ve seen Norris being in the lead of the championship, being behind, fighting back, so we’ve seen kind of everything that Norris is. We haven’t seen everything that Piastri is and how he reacts in certain situations. Will that make him better or worse? That’s what I’m waiting to see.
—Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 World Champion
What Lies Ahead for Norris and Piastri in the Championship Chase
As the 2025 season progresses into its crucial stages, the duel between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri promises to deliver edge-of-the-seat excitement. With identical machinery and nearly matched pace, factors such as mental resilience, race strategy, and critical incidents will play decisive roles. McLaren’s handling of the internal rivalry appears steady, but the pressure on both young drivers will only mount.
This championship battle not only represents a defining moment for Norris and Piastri but also signals a potential changing of the guard within Formula 1. The outcome may also influence driver lineups and team strategies looking beyond 2025, adding another layer of intrigue to the title fight.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lando Norris a billionaire?
A. Lando Norris, a British racing driver, started competing in Formula 1 with the McLaren team in 2019. He has earned $30 million (£22.6 million).
Q. How rich is Lando Norris?
A. Lando Norris is a British driver who began racing in Formula 1 with McLaren in 2019. He has earned $30 million (£22.6m) in his career.
