Formula 1 News: Does Verstappen live in the heads of Norris and Piastri?
McLaren endured a nightmare weekend in Baku, as championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed in both qualifying and the race to end his long run of cool consistency, and Lando Norris made his usual mental errors as Max Verstappen lives in their heads like a nightmare.
“Oscar has been the most consistent driver this season so far,” team boss Andrea Stella noted, adding that the Australian had finished 44 races in a row prior to Sunday.
“He was severely punished for small mistakes. He will learn from this. This has happened to even the greatest champions from time to time, like Michael Schumacher.”
Sky Deutschland pundit Ralf Schumacher, however, was less forgiving. “Looked like a sudden loss of talent,” he said.
“It’s good for (Lando) Norris to see that his teammate can also make mistakes. The pressure is on now, and it won’t leave anyone unscathed.”
Stella admitted the otherwise dominant McLaren car struggled as much as the drivers over the weekend. “The car didn’t deliver the grip, predictability, and consistency that the drivers usually need to fully exploit,” he said.
“As soon as Oscar pushed the limit a little, it was a disaster. On tracks with heavy braking and tight corners, our car doesn’t deliver the best performance. Fortunately, most tracks aren’t like this one.”
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko pointed out that Max Verstappen’s relentless presence and sudden return to form is shaking McLaren.
“It’s not that common for a McLaren driver to fail to finish,” he said. “But I always say – you have to be as close as possible to make them nervous.”
Former F1 driver Christijan Albers, meanwhile, blasted McLaren’s operations.
“They have an incredibly dominant car,” he told Viaplay. “Andrea Stella is building that team around himself, but I saw the same thing with Andreas Seidl – he was also so hyped.
“They have a fantastic car, but their strategy is poor, and the drivers are inconsistent. If you put Max, Russell, or Leclerc in that car, you’d have a completely different championship.” (in part from GMM)
Lando Norris Faces Backlash After Missed Opportunity at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Lando Norris drew heavy criticism online following a costly mistake at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 14, 2025, reigniting doubts about his Formula 1 championship potential. Despite McLaren arriving in Baku with the grid’s fastest car, Norris failed to capitalize on a rare error by teammate Oscar Piastri, leaving fans frustrated and questioning his ability to handle pressure.
McLaren’s Missed Chance in Baku
McLaren entered the 2025 season with high hopes, confident their car could propel Norris into a serious title contender. However, strategic missteps and driver errors have left him trailing in the points standings, overshadowed by Piastri. When Piastri crashed out on the first lap in Baku, Norris had a prime opportunity to shine but faltered, finishing a disappointing seventh. The result intensified scrutiny of his big-race mentality.
Social media erupted with frustration. “Norris might be the worst F1 title candidate ever, crumbling under any pressure,” one fan posted on X. Another fumed, “Piastri hands him a chance by crashing, and Norris still can’t deliver.” Fans pointed out that with Piastri out, Norris only needed a clean lap to start second, yet he hit the wall multiple times, with one user noting, “That’s not just leaving no margin—it’s losing your head.”
A Pattern of Missed Opportunities
Fans expressed exasperation at what they see as a recurring issue. “The pressure was off with Piastri out, and he still blew it,” one wrote. Another suggested the failure could be a humbling moment: “When you have a fast car, anything less than a win feels like a bottle job. Maybe this will ground him.”
Norris’s seventh-place finish underscores a broader trend this season. Despite strong qualifying pace, he has struggled to convert opportunities into podiums or wins. As Max Verstappen dominated in Baku and other drivers consistently challenged for top spots, Norris’s inability to deliver stood out starkly.
Can Norris silence the Doubters?
With fans and pundits questioning his “guts” and championship caliber, Norris faces mounting pressure to turn McLaren’s speed into consistent results. Unless he can translate his car’s potential into race wins and podiums, doubts will persist about his place alongside Verstappen and Piastri in the 2025 title fight. The upcoming races will be critical for Norris to prove he can rise to the occasion and silence his critics.