Franz Tost thinks ‘faster’ Lando Norris has one big disadvantage that could see Oscar Piastri win 2025 F1 title

Lando Norris has struggled to live up to his pre-season ranking as the favourite to win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri leading the standings.

Only three points currently separate the papaya pals in the F1 drivers’ championship prior to this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. But Piastri leads Norris through the opening eight rounds of the season with 161 points playing 158, having claimed four wins to two thus far this year.

Many believed over the winter that Norris was the pre-season 2025 F1 title favourite, having ranked second to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen last term. He also dominated Piastri in 2024, as Norris thrashed the 24-year-old 20-4 in qualifying results and 16-8 in Grand Prix results.

But while the 25-year-old took a 23-point advantage as Norris won the Australian Grand Prix from pole position in round one and Piastri recovered to P9 after spinning whilst P2, he saw the Melbourne native then turn it into a 16-point lead before the Briton eventually hit back.

Franz Tost feels Oscar Piastri has a big advantage being ‘mentally stronger’ than Lando Norris

Norris called himself ‘clueless’ after qualifying P6 for the Bahrain GP, called himself an ‘idiot’ after crashing in qualifying in Saudi Arabia and also stated at Imola that his efforts in Q3 this season are ‘just not good enough’, having seen Piastri claim control in qualifying at McLaren.

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The Australian had not taken a pole position prior to the 2025 F1 season starting. Yet Piastri converted his first F1 pole into the win in China and has since also taken pole in Bahrain and Imola. But Franz Tost still believes Norris is the faster McLaren driver overall against Piastri.

However, being quick does not guarantee success, and Tost feels Piastri has a big advantage over Norris that will pay off ‘in the end’ via the 2020 FIA F3 and 2021 F2 champion’s mental strength. Norris has always been very open about his mental health throughout his career.

Tost told F1-Insider: “Norris may be a bit faster, but in the end – as with all top athletes – it’s the mind that counts. At the moment, I think Piastri is mentally stronger.”

Lando Norris called himself ‘clueless’ at the peak of his problems in the 2025 F1 title fight

Norris’ mental strength and openness about his struggles in that regard are often discussed as the McLaren driver is not one to hide his problems and prefers to share his true feelings. Also, Piastri’s mental strength is often seen as superior to Norris’, given his relaxed attitude.

The 1980 F1 champion Alan Jones claimed Norris is mentally ‘weak’ in April as the 25-year-old dwells on his issues, rather than his positives. Jones even added that Piastri has ‘exactly’ what Australia needs to get another F1 champion in 2025 with his ‘strong-minded’ outlook.

Norris certainly put his problems on centre stage after poor qualifying efforts at the Bahrain, Saudi Arabian and Emilia Romagna Grands Prix. But since the Briton called himself ‘clueless’ and an ‘idiot’ at the peak of his plight, Norris reacted in the ideal way with pole in Monaco.