SAKHIR, Bahrain — Lando Norris struggled during the Bahrain Grand Prix, while his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, delivered a drive of championship caliber.
Piastri`s dominant performance throughout the race weekend, securing his fourth Formula 1 victory in 50 starts, contrasted sharply with Norris. Norris admitted to feeling disconnected from his car after qualifying sixth. Following a somewhat untidy race to third place, Norris confessed he still hasn`t found the sweet spot with McLaren`s leading MCL39 car. This is a concerning statement for a driver aiming for his first world title this season.
When asked about positives from the race, Norris wryly remarked, `That I finished, probably.`
The atmosphere at McLaren has completely shifted since the start of the year. Norris began as the pre-season favorite, while Piastri, despite his immense talent, was seen as the less consistent teammate needing to improve to contend for the title, especially in qualifying. Piastri has not only improved but exceeded expectations. His commanding victory displayed the qualities of a true championship contender.
Considering the Bahrain race and the season so far, predicting a winner between the two, it would be hard to bet against Piastri at this moment.
It`s too early to dismiss Norris, and overreacting to one bad weekend should be avoided. Context is important: Despite feeling out of sync with the car, Norris still leads the championship, albeit by a narrow three points over Piastri, with 20 races remaining. There is ample time for Norris to synchronize with the car.
However, there is also plenty of time for Piastri to continue his progression.
The clear difference between the two throughout the weekend was significant. This follows prior weekends in China, where Piastri outperformed Norris in the sprint and the Grand Prix, and in Japan, where McLaren denied Piastri`s request to overtake Norris.
Piastri`s consistent improvement is undeniable. The third-year driver has progressed faster than McLaren anticipated, and Norris seems to be grappling with this challenge.
Norris`s Race Mistakes Contrast with Piastri`s Excellence
Norris`s race began poorly. On the formation lap, he stopped short of his grid spot, then overcorrected, ending up too far forward. Max Verstappen noticed and alerted his Red Bull team.
This significant error resulted in a five-second penalty, forcing McLaren to pit Norris earlier than planned.
`Every time I did something well, I made two mistakes,` Norris summarized. `I kept hindering my own progress.`
Mistakes plagued Norris`s 2024 season, especially after his Miami Grand Prix win. These errors seem to have carried over into this season. In contrast, Piastri has been remarkably consistent. Perhaps his only significant error in 2025 was in Australia.
In Australia, Piastri ran wide in worsening rain, spun, and briefly got stuck, turning a likely second-place finish into ninth. Norris made a similar error ahead but recovered to win. The outcomes for the two McLaren drivers were drastically different.
Since that Australian mistake, Piastri has been exceptional and Bahrain marked his second victory of the season, while Norris has only one win. Bahrain felt like a statement race for Piastri.
`While not every result has been perfect, this weekend was exactly what I wanted,` Piastri stated. `This weekend`s performance is a very meaningful result, even beyond the win.`
The difference between the drivers extends beyond the track. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella highlighted Piastri`s mindset on Saturday, after his pole position.
`I`ve always noted Oscar`s mental clarity in Formula 1,` Stella commented.
Norris has openly discussed his own mental challenges, which he is commendably transparent about. However, his openness has sometimes been used against him. Helmut Marko controversially suggested Norris was `not the strongest mentally` after Norris discussed feeling anxious before races.
This highlights another key difference: Norris is known for thoughtful, sometimes lengthy answers, while Piastri is more direct. Sources suggest Piastri has consciously become more understated in his responses, aware of the contrast with his teammate. This difference may become more apparent as the season progresses.
Norris`s honesty is a compelling part of his personality. He remained open after the race, admitting he needed to reassess his approach to reignite his championship bid.
Asked if self-criticism could lead to a negative spiral, Norris responded, `It would be harder for me to hide these feelings. My interviews are often just me venting frustration because I`m not achieving my goals.`
`When I`m critical of myself, it`s because I`m disappointed, but I don`t think it negatively impacts me. I`ve learned to manage my own comments and not let them affect me.`
`Maybe I sometimes lack self-belief, but that`s part of who I am and how I work. It`s made me successful, and while it might sometimes limit me, I`m content. I believe in my abilities and know I can compete with the best.`
There are positives for Norris. He has overcome challenges before. Despite criticism of his racecraft, he delivered a strong performance in Abu Dhabi to secure McLaren the constructors` championship after Piastri`s early race incident. His Singapore win last year was also exceptional. These past successes must fuel his frustration with his current disconnect from the 2025 car.
Norris will undoubtedly work intensely before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He must address his own performance and the rising bar set by Piastri, who appears consistently strong. Norris is under pressure heading into Jeddah.
While it`s early to predict the season`s outcome, Piastri currently looks formidable. If Norris wants to regain momentum, he needs to quickly rediscover his 2024 form before the season slips away.
