Johnny Herbert makes his pick for the 2025 Formula 1 title between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

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Lando Norris has closed the gap on McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to 22 points after winning a controversial tussle at the Singapore Grand Prix. Piastri has now lost ground at three straight races.

When Norris retired from the Dutch Grand Prix with a chassis problem, race winner Piastri increased his advantage to 34 points. Some feared the title battle would soon be over.

But Norris was quicker than Piastri at Monza and finished ahead, albeit only after the Australian moved over in recognition of his slow pit stop.

Piastri crashed twice during a completely unrecognisable Azerbaijan GP weekend, though Norris was only able to chip six points off his lead. He gained a further three in Singapore, having bumped his way past car number 81 at the start.

Johnny Herbert backs Lando Norris to beat Oscar Piastri in F1 title race

In a recent appearance on Lucas Stewart’s YouTube channel, F1 pundit Johnny Herbert was asked which driver would win the championship as part of a quickfire round. Herbert made the eye-catching call to back Norris.

“I think Lando has got what it takes,” the former Lotus, Sauber and Benetton driver said after taking a moment to think.

It’s worth noting that this interview was filmed before last weekend’s Singapore GP, but one imagines that Herbert’s confidence has only increased further after the events at Marina Bay. Norris still has six Grands Prix and three Sprints to overturn the deficit.

Norris is eyeing one of the biggest F1 comebacks of the 21st century, following on from Max Verstappen in 2022 (46 points) and Sebastian Vettel in 2012 (44). The record, if the modern points system is used, belongs to Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 (72).

The F1 paddock fear Oscar Piastri is showing a critical weakness

James Hinchliffe suggested Piastri is ‘on his own’ at McLaren after watching the team celebrate their constructors’ triumph on the podium without him. He was conducting media duties at the time and later joined the festivities.

Norris refused to help Piastri by granting him an earlier pit stop during the race. He had priority as the lead driver.

With the constructors’ sealed, there are signs that the two McLaren drivers are becoming more concerned with their own interests. The team could loosen restrictions while still maintaining their core principles.

People ‘up and down’ the F1 paddock think Piastri is feeling the pressure of his first title fight. While his performance in Singapore was solid, his frustrated radio messages will only fuel that concern.