Piastri vs Norris: Consistency key to F1 World Champion title

After the summer break, a second F1 Constructors' title in a row is a slam dunk for Zak Brown's team. When that's decided, the focus will shift to which of the pair will capture McLaren's first F1 Drivers' crown since Lewis Hamilton did the business for them nearly two decades ago. Will it be Norris or Piastri?

Hard to tell at this stage, despite the Australian enjoying a ten-point lead over the Briton after nine rounds of this year's title contest. But, perhaps more significantly, Piastri has five victories to the two scored by Norris, and this might well be where this F1 title is decided: consistency.

At least that is what former F1 driver turned pundit Johnny Herbert reckons. He said: "Lando and Oscar are doing the best possible job they can do at the moment. I don't think the pressure has ramped up yet. If we go into the second half of the season and it's still tight at the top, that's when we'll see a bit more pressure build.

"The one who can absorb the pressure and use it as motivation in the cockpit will succeed. Both will need to look away from what the media or social media say. Norris has done this more recently. Going for your first championship is the pinnacle of the sport, it's the biggest pressure cooker you'll ever be in.

"It will depend on who can deliver the most consistently," added Herbert. "You can't finish below second place from now on. It's down to mental strength. There will be tracks where it will be very close."

Austria and Canada are great tracks that can throw up interesting races, especially with the weather sometimes. The layout of the track in Canada provides a lot of DRS opportunities, both will be trying to save their tyres for a final push at the end. It will be an interesting battle coming up.

"I just hope it never comes to the point where McLaren choose who to prioritise like they did in Hungary last year. It should be the drivers making the calls and pushing each other's boundaries and skills. I don't want to see any external forces that could potentially dictate the championship," reckoned Herbert, a three-time Grand Prix winner.

Heading to Canada next weekend, it's all to play for in Round 10 of the Championship and it could go any way, predicts Herbert: "Both Norris and Piastri are still in the [title] race. Piastri is not in a comfortable position yet, Norris showed in Monaco, which is probably the most exhilarating track on the calendar from a driver's perspective, that he can still win races."

Herbert continued: "They've both had weak and strong races. It's great, there are so many races to go and it will keep the competition tight at the top. Norris shows a different side of himself now, he's annoyed when he doesn't get the most out of the car. Piastri absorbs it, he's careful and calm in the manner he reflects on his performances. Norris is more willing to show his frustration, Piastri is more of a closed book.

"There was a moment in the cooldown room, Charles Leclerc asked Piastri 'how were your tyres? Mine were terrible in the race', Piastri replied with a witty smile and said 'we didn't have any problems at all'. It's a strength of his, he's very good at feeding the right people the positives and negatives of his drive," ventured Herbert.

The 'students' of McLaren will note that their two drivers, among the best on this grid and of this current generation, keep pushing each other. Just when Norris thought he had the upper hand going into this campaign with the season-opening win in Melbourne, Piastri retaliated with three wins without an answer from his teammate.

Then came Monaco, where Norris took a fine victory, the momentum shifting to his side of the McLaren garage, until Oscar bounced back in Spain last Sunday. The pair push each other all the time, raising the bar for one another, suggesting that the one who wins the most Grands Prix this year will be the Champion. The most consistent one of the two, in other words.