Norris Praised by Steiner, Ready to Fight for F1 2025 Title

Lando Norris, McLaren driver, has impressed former Haas boss Guenther Steiner with his recent form heading into the F1 2025 summer break. Despite Steiner’s prediction that Oscar Piastri will clinch the world championship, he acknowledges Norris is “up for the fight.” This article reviews Steiner’s comments, Norris’ performance, and the championship outlook. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Norris enters the summer break just nine points behind championship leader Piastri, having won three of the last four races: Austria, Britain, and Hungary. His victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3, 2025, stood out, with McLaren’s bold one-stop strategy lifting Norris from fourth to first, outpacing Piastri, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, and George Russell of Mercedes, who opted for two-stop strategies.

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner praised Norris’ resilience. “He’s won three of the last four races. That’s not folding under pressure,” he said. Previously critical of Norris’ errors, like the Canadian Grand Prix crash with Piastri that led to a double DNF, Steiner now sees Norris as a serious contender. “He’s up for the fight, which is interesting,” he added. However, Steiner still backs Piastri for the title due to his consistency.

Norris’ season has been a rollercoaster. His Canadian error cost him vital points; without it, he’d lead the standings by one point. Yet, Norris rebounded with wins in Austria and Britain, capitalizing on the MCL39’s pace. In Hungary, McLaren’s daring strategy helped him fend off Piastri, who nearly overtook him on the penultimate lap with fresher tires. Norris now has five wins this season, one behind Piastri.

Steiner highlighted McLaren’s neutral stance, avoiding team orders. “McLaren is very good to let them keep fighting,” he said, referring to the “papaya rules” emphasizing fair racing without contact. McLaren CEO Zak Brown called the Norris-Piastri duel a “coin toss,” affirming both drivers’ equal chances.

McLaren dominates 2025, securing seven one-two finishes in 14 races, with 516 points in the constructors’ standings, 268 points ahead of Ferrari. Piastri leads with 11 podiums and six wins, while Norris has five wins and 11 podiums. Max Verstappen of Red Bull, with two wins, trails Norris by 97 points, making the title a McLaren duel.

With 10 races remaining, including the Dutch Grand Prix on August 29-31, Steiner anticipates a tight championship. “It’s not done until it’s finished,” he said, noting potential surprises. Norris, now more confident, vows to avoid mind games against Piastri, focusing on fair racing. Will Norris seize the title, or will Piastri prove Steiner right? Comment below!

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