F1 legend Jacques Villeneuve believes Lando Norris nonetheless has the sting over Oscar Piastri in tempo – however the British driver has “acquired into his personal head”.
Norris has endured an error-strewn begin to the 2025 F1 season.
Norris hasn’t received for the reason that season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Teammate Piastri has received 4 of the next 5 races following Melbourne to take the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship.
Heading into this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Piastri is 16 factors forward of his teammate.
Assessing the F1 title battle, Villeneuve feels that whereas Norris remains to be faster, Piastri is extra composed and has made a “small step” relative to final yr.
“I don’t suppose Oscar Piastri has acquired into Lando Norris’s head, I feel Lando acquired into his personal head,” Villeneuve instructed Vision4Sport.
“Lando got here in as an underdog final yr who was not presupposed to win and never presupposed to combat for the championship. That was simple. There was no strain. Then it simply builds up. This yr he spent the entire winter pondering, ‘OK, this can be my large shot. It’s subsequent yr or by no means.’
“Lando began the season with a distinct sort of weight on his shoulders and he hasn’t coped properly with that as a result of he’s nonetheless tremendous fast, however there’s the odd second that’s so pricey within the championship.
“He’s usually faster than Piastri, however the factors aren’t there. There are simply too many small errors and with the sector so shut, it means you lose multiple place, you lose possibly 5 spots. That’s lots of factors.
“Lando all the time appears to be on the again foot. Piastri seems to be and looks like he belongs there. He’s there to combat.
“I don’t suppose has modified that a lot. I feel it’s extra that it has collapsed round him and he’s simply stayed targeted and chilly. Perhaps he has taken a small step. However that small step is getting greater with the opposite one. Lando Norris is stepping backwards. It’s making a giant distinction.”
Is Imola a must-win for Norris?
With Piastri profitable 4 of the final 5 races, Norris can be determined to cease his teammate’s momentum.
Imola has been a contented looking floor for Norris over time.
He completed on the rostrum in 2021 with a positive drive to 3rd.
It was the same story in 2022, ending third – the one driver outdoors the highest three groups to complete on the podium.
He pushed Max Verstappen arduous for the win in 2024, however the Dutchman finally got here out on high.
