Oscar Piastri has outshone McLaren team-mate Lando Norris so far this season and Martin Brundle thinks he knows the key piece that the Brit has been missing so far in 2025
Martin Brundle believes Lando Norris lacks the consistency he needs to be «the clear championship favourite». The Brit was the driver with the shortest pre-season odds to become Formula 1 champion for the first time this year, but so far has been outshone by team-mate Oscar Piastri.
The McLaren drivers have been the class of the field so far in 2025, armed with a car that has been clearly the most performant. Piastri leads team-mate Norris by 10 points heading into this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix having won five races this year.
In contrast, Norris has managed only two victories so far this term. And while Brundle has been very impressed with some of the performances his fellow Brit has put in, the Sky Sports F1 pundit believes Norris has been lacking in one key area up to now.
He said: «I think Lando has put in some extraordinary drives. His victories in Australia and Monaco [were] top, top drawer. Any driver in the history of this sport would like those on his CV, but Lando can’t seem to do that every weekend. If he could, he would be the clear championship favourite.
Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox!
«So, I think that’s consistency, getting his A-game there all day, every day, every Grand Prix weekend. But I still feel like Lando is happier and has got more trust [and] more faith in himself and his car, though.»
The McLaren drivers have had to work together at times this season to see off the threat of Max Verstappen. But the Dutchman is now 49 points off the lead and, if the Red Bull star continues to slip further behind, it will soon be a two-horse race in the chase for the drivers’ title.
READ MORE: Martin Brundle disagrees with Ferrari legend as Lewis Hamilton’s boss comes under fireREAD MORE: Truth behind Donald Trump rumour as US President tipped to drive McLaren F1 car
Norris and Piastri have enjoyed a friendly, fruitful relationship to this point. But, as the year wears on, the Brit has acknowledged that it is likely there will be some testing moments ahead with both of them chasing their first F1 title.
He said: «I think it will change. I don’t think it’s always going to be perfect and we’re always going to get on as well as we probably do now, because I’m sure there’s going to be some tough moments. Whether it’s this year, or next year, or the year after, I think we know that.
Sky Sports launches discounted Formula 1 package
Formula 1 fans can watch every practice, qualifying and race live with Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in a new deal that saves £192.
As well as Sky Sports access, this includes more than 100 TV channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
«I think we both know that there could be some trickier moments in the future but, until then, we’re team-mates, we work for McLaren and that’s our job at the end of the day. At the minute, there’s no need for things to be any trickier than they normally are.
«Of course, the data is open, all of these things are open and that’s always the case it is in teams, but there’s no reason for it to be any different than it normally is. We both go out on track, we both want to enjoy our lives here, we go on and we do the best job we can, and we go out.»
