David Coulthard has seen worrying ‘little signs’ from Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri amid their F1 title fight

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Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris by a mere nine points in the drivers’ standings, as the McLaren teammates both strive to win their debut Formula 1 title in the 2025 season.

This year’s F1 drivers’ championship has increasingly become a two-man race across recent rounds, with four-time title-holder Max Verstappen facing 97 and 88-point deficits to Piastri and Norris. Additionally, Red Bull driver Verstappen doubts he will win another race in 2025.

Verstappen has lost 10.7 points per round on average to Piastri in the seven rounds since he overtook the McLaren racer to score his most recent Grand Prix win at Imola in May’s Emilia Romagna GP. He also overtook the Australian to win the F1 Sprint at the Belgian GP this July.

Norris has also outpaced Verstappen by 11.2 points per round on average since round seven of the 24 due during the 2025 F1 season at Imola. The Briton has further scored four wins in the past seven rounds, eclipsing Piastri’s two wins and Mercedes racer George Russell’s one.

David Coulthard has already seen ‘little signs’ of tension from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

But while McLaren are increasingly likely to see Piastri or Norris earn the team’s first drivers’ title since 2008 during the 2025 F1 season, David Coulthard feels it is inevitable that the title fight will ‘boil over’ having already detected ‘little signs’ of tension between the papaya pals.

READ MORE: Every error that cost Lando Norris points in his failed 2024 F1 title challenge

McLaren are letting their stars sort out the drivers’ title themselves, with Norris winning the Hungarian GP on a one-stop strategy after failing to utilise a different strategy as Piastri won the Belgian GP. So, Coulthard tips fireworks as 2025 could be their only chance to win a title.

Coulthard said on the Indo Sport podcast: “These are difficult situations which inevitably we will see boil over at McLaren, as with Lando and Oscar. We’ve seen little signs of it.

“One of those guys will be world champion this year, and it might be the only chance they get. Next year’s McLaren might not be any good. It’s a completely different sport next year. It’s still called Formula 1, but this could be their one chance.”

F1’s 2026 regulations could make 2025 the only chance Norris and Piastri get to win a title

The 2026 Formula 1 regulations mark the biggest overhaul of the championship’s rulebook in history, with new engine, aerodynamic, chassis and tyre rules coming next term. It could completely reshape the pecking order, with most teams already focusing on their 2026 car.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aerodynamic rules

And while McLaren might enjoy the strongest power unit, as Mercedes are widely expected to design the best 2026 F1 rules engine, there are no guarantees that the Woking outfit will be able to maximise the aerodynamic and chassis regulations to maintain their advantages.

Team principal Andrea Stella is hopeful that McLaren can transfer a “large amount” of what makes them strong in 2025 over to their 2026 car, however. Norris and Piastri believing that McLaren will be title contenders again next term could help to ease any tension this season.