Helmut Marko: Piastri mentally stronger and more consistent than Norris

Red Bull sports advisor Helmut Marko has praised the mode McLaren is managing the rivalry betwixt its drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, successful the combat for the title title. However, the experienced Austrian believes that the 23-year-old Australian is mentally stronger than his teammate and that helium volition decorativeness the play ahead.

The 2025 title enters its past 10 races, and Max Verstappen is arsenic galore arsenic 97 points down the person successful the standings. The four-time consecutive champion would request a existent occurrence to get his 5th title, which Marko himself admits is astir impossible. However, helium is intimately pursuing the improvement of the McLaren duel, since the 2 actors are separated by lone 9 points; which promises an breathtaking finish.

At McLaren, determination is nary speech of squad orders yet, though the communal "stealing" of points could unfastened the doorway for Verstappen to attack the top. Marko believes that the existent powerfulness of their car allows specified luxury.

"They tin thrust without squad orders. It's precise sporting that they haven't resorted to these measures yet. When things get much complicated, it tin beryllium a handicap if 2 apical drivers instrumentality points from each other. For now, with the vantage they have, they're not risking anything," helium told F1-Insider.

Mental toughness against sheer speed

McLaren says that it is hard to foretell the victor successful immoderate race. The results corroborate this — Piastri celebrated successful Spain and Belgium this season, portion Norris triumphed successful Austria, Great Britain and Hungary. However, Marko sees the Australian arsenic the 1 who volition travel retired of this lucifer with much reasons to celebrate.

"Piastri is mentally stronger, much accordant and ever gives his maximum. I person ne'er seen him emotionally unstable. Norris whitethorn person a faster lap, but overall, I similar Oscar," emphasizes Marko.

However, successful a nonstop examination with Verstappen, Piastri is inactive not astatine that velocity level. 

"He's improving each year. Last twelvemonth helium had oscillations depending connected the track, and present that's gone. But Verstappen is Verstappen — there's a difference. The imaginable to go large is decidedly there," concluded the Red Bull advisor.