Helmut Marko admits he was wrong about Lando Norris after ‘clearly outshining’ Oscar Piastri

Follow us on Google Discover

Helmut Marko believes Lando Norris is a “worthy” Formula 1 champion after seeing the McLaren driver overhaul teammate Oscar Piastri to win his maiden title in 2025.

Norris faced a 34-point deficit to Piastri atop the F1 drivers’ standings after the first 15 of 24 rounds in 2025. But the Briton fought back to beat Red Bull rival Max Verstappen to the title by only two points, with Piastri falling to third place with a 13-point deficit to his papaya pal.

Piastri was increasingly looking like the champion-elect after winning at Zandvoort to open a commanding lead thanks to Norris’ retirement in the Dutch Grand Prix owing to an oil fitting failure. Norris endured the only mechanical failure among the top three drivers during 2025.

Verstappen also trailed Piastri by 104 points leaving his home event, but the Dutchman took advantage of Red Bull continuing to deliver upgrades while McLaren ceased developing their car in July. Piastri outscored Norris over two of the final nine rounds and Verstappen in zero.

Lando Norris winning the 2025 F1 title ‘proved’ to Helmut Marko that he is not ‘mentally weak’

Norris especially impressed Marko, who is now leaving Red Bull after 20 years, with how he mentally coped with Piastri asserting his dominance at McLaren in the first half of the term. Norris’ mental strength was widely questioned amid the mistakes he was regularly making.

READ MORE: Every F1 driver’s final radio message of 2025, as Lando Norris won the title

What was your favourite moment from Lando Norris’ 2025 F1 title-winning season?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Even Marko has previously claimed Norris has “certain weaknesses” in his mental state, but the 82-year-old believes the Briton showed that he is not mentally weak during the 2025 F1 season. Norris has never been afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and show his emotions.

“[Norris is a] worthy world champion,” Marko told sport.de. “He recovered and drove some fantastic races mentally in the second half, clearly outshining Piastri. Despite all the predictions that he was too mentally weak, he proved that he isn’t.”

Lando Norris’ public self-criticism sparked widespread claims about his mental strength

Do you agree with Zak Brown’s message to 2026 F1 newcomers Audi and Cadillac?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Marko caused controversy last year when he claimed Norris has “certain weaknesses” in his mental state compared to Verstappen during the pair’s 2024 F1 title fight. Norris also faced accusations that he is not as mentally strong as Piastri at the start of the title fight this year.

Norris called himself “clueless” after qualifying in Bahrain, having secured P6 as Piastri took pole due to his mistakes in Q3. The 26-year-old even called himself an “idiot” after crashing without setting a Q3 lap time in Saudi Arabia, after trying to match Piastri’s speed at Turn 4.

The Bristol-born pilot’s public self-criticism sparked widespread suggestions that he was not as mentally strong as his rivals. But Norris has now convinced Marko that he is not mentally weak, and he goes into the winter break as a Formula 1 drivers’ champion for the first time.