Emerson Fittipaldi makes Ayrton Senna comparison to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s 2025 title fight

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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are set to produce an intense battle for the 2025 Formula 1 title. It looks likely to be a shootout between the McLaren drivers.

The Woking outfit look set to dethrone Max Verstappen and Red Bull and win their first drivers’ title since 2008. Verstappen does not think he will win again in 2025 as he sits 97 points behind Piastri with 10 races to go.

Who will be McLaren’s first champion since Lewis Hamilton is anyone’s guess at this stage, and the team are keen to let their drivers decide that for themselves. CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella have reiterated that Norris and Piastri are free to fight each other.

After Norris claimed victory at the season opener in Melbourne, mistakes in qualifying hampered the Brit as his teammate established an advantage. F1 commentator Alex Jacques says Piastri has had a ‘remarkable’ improvement at McLaren as he has six wins under his belt in 2025.

However, Norris has got himself back into the title picture after winning three of the last four races. The pair are separated by just nine points as the summer break nears its conclusion.

Emerson Fittipaldi thinks Lando Norris v Oscar Piastri is ‘very reminiscent’ of Ayrton Senna v Alain Prost

Norris and Piastri are both determined to be world champion and will not give each other any opportunity to seize an advantage. Two-time champion Emerson Fittipaldi thinks their fight is ‘very reminiscent’ of Ayrton Senna and his intense rivalry with Alain Prost.

Speaking via Motorsport Brasil, Fittipaldi gave his verdict on the 2025 title battle: “I also think that Piastri has a better chance, because Piastri is more constant, colder.

“Lando in extremes, for example, in the wet, he is very fast. Suddenly, he takes a position when someone expects it, he has some races where, suddenly, he comes really fast.

“So, I think it will be really cool for us to watch the two compete. Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, they let the two fight each other, right?

“There won’t be any preference for any of them, which I think is really cool.

“So, it’s going to be a championship that will be very reminiscent of Ayrton’s time with Alain, right? Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost at McLaren too.”

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McLaren could risk another Senna-Prost fallout with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Senna and Prost’s rivalry is perhaps the most famous in F1 history, with two crashes at Suzuka deciding the 1989 and 1990 championships. McLaren will be keen not to repeat their drama with Norris and Piastri, but things could turn sour quickly.

David Coulthard has noticed ‘little signs’ of tension between the duo as they fight for the title. Norris and Piastri crashed in Canada after the former attempted an ill-timed overtake and they almost came to blows again in Hungary.

Andrea Stella is constantly reiterating how McLaren operate to his drivers as they cannot collide under any circumstance. However, Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Piastri is more ‘heated’ due to his desire to beat Norris; another crash is entirely possible.

Fittipaldi says McLaren must be ‘open and honest’ with their drivers as they battle for the championship. The team look on course to claim the title, but how they manage which talent wins and loses will be crucial.