'It's going to be decided in Lando Norris' head' - Nico Rosberg on McLaren's fierce title fight
The 2025 Formula 1 title race is shaping up to be one of the closest battles in years, and it’s happening inside the McLaren garage.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are separated by just nine points as the season heads into its final stretch, and former world champion Nico Rosberg believes Piastri may already have the upper hand.
Rosberg sees a 'scary' edge in Piastri
Rosberg shared his view on The F1 Show, saying that while the two McLaren drivers are evenly matched on raw speed, Piastri has shown something extra this season.
He called the Australian “incredibly solid, strong and fast,” and suggested that his growing consistency could make the difference. For Norris, Rosberg said, that edge is “a bit scary.”
The shift in momentum has been clear. Norris started the year as the favourite, having had the better of Piastri in their first two seasons together.
But Piastri took an early lead with victory in Saudi Arabia and has not let go of the top spot since.
Norris did some real damage control before the summer break, cutting the gap with three wins in the last four races. That run turned what had been a 22-point deficit after Montreal into a nine-point gap by Hungary, where Norris beat Piastri to the flag.
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McLaren's dominance driving the story
Their performances have also lifted McLaren to new heights. The team has delivered four straight one-two finishes - something not seen often in modern Formula 1.
That streak has put them far ahead of Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and Max Verstappen in the standings, proving that the MCL39-Norris-Piastri pairing is currently the strongest on the grid.
Rosberg knows exactly what it takes to win a title fight against a team-mate, having done so himself in 2016 against Lewis Hamilton. He believes the Norris-Piastri battle will come down to mentality rather than car performance.
"The championship is going to be decided in Lando's head. That's my that's my kind of impression unfortunately. It's how solid can Lando become?"
Norris under pressure, Piastri in control
Piastri’s growth is what stands out most. At just 24, he looks like a driver with very few weaknesses right now.
That doesn’t mean Norris is out of it - he has shown speed and resilience all season - but he will need to dig deep to stop his team-mate from pulling away in the final rounds.
What makes this duel so exciting is that McLaren have given both drivers the platform to fight freely - well, as freely as 'Papaya rules' allow.
The second half of the season begins at Zandvoort from August 29-31, and the margins could not be finer. Norris has the chance to prove he can handle the pressure, but right now, Piastri looks like the man in control.
