Former F1 driver says Lando Norris is more talented than team mate Oscar Piastri
Former Formula 1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella has shared his thoughts on the ongoing battle for the championship title, with a particular focus on the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. As the paddock heads to Monaco for round eight of the 2025 campaign, Piastri leads the way with a 13-point advantage over Norris, while reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen trails the Brit by a further nine points.
Fisichella, who had a storied career in F1, believes that Norris has “more talent” than his Australian teammate. However, he also notes that Piastri’s calm and collected demeanor, combined with his ability to avoid costly mistakes, makes him the obvious title favorite at this point in the season.
One of the key factors that has hindered Norris’ progress is his poor qualifying performances, which have left him with too much to do on Sundays. This has, in turn, damaged his standing in the paddock. In contrast, Piastri has been impressive in qualifying, and his ability to stay calm under pressure has allowed him to capitalize on his strong grid positions.
Fisichella, who spoke to Express Sport in association with Betway, praised the job that Piastri has done so far this season. “I’m quite impressed about the job Oscar Piastri is doing because he’s so cold,” he said. “He never makes mistakes, he’s quick in the qualifying session and in the race.”
While Fisichella believes that Norris has more talent than Piastri, he also thinks that the Australian’s consistency and ability to avoid mistakes make him a stronger title contender at this point. “I think it’s going to be difficult for Lando to beat him,” he said. “I think Lando has maybe more talent. I think at the moment, Oscar Piastri could be the world champion.”
The battle for the championship title is set to heat up in the coming weeks, with the Monaco Grand Prix marking the start of a crucial triple header. McLaren is awaiting the outcome of the FIA’s front-wing technical directive, which will come into effect at the Spanish Grand Prix. Red Bull believes that the directive will level the playing field and give Verstappen a chance to close the gap to Piastri.
With 15 races remaining after the Spanish Grand Prix, the title race is far from over. Piastri’s 22-point advantage could quickly disintegrate if McLaren’s performance is affected by the technical directive. As the paddock heads to Monaco, all eyes will be on the McLaren duo and Verstappen as they battle for supremacy in the principality.
