Lando Norris chooses two pivotal moments where he could’ve been ‘smarter’ in 2025 F1 title battle

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Lando Norris is now only nine points away from Oscar Piastri in the 2025 Formula 1 title fight heading into the second half of the season.

The battle for the Drivers’ Championship crown has increasingly become a two-horse race between Norris and Piastri, especially now that Max Verstappen thinks he will not win another race in 2025.

Red Bull have been dealing with problems for most of the season, which has enabled McLaren to extend their advantage and even focus on driver-specific upgrades to help Norris in the title battle.

Norris started off the year as the title favourite, but things have pivoted more towards Piastri after the Australian took the lead of the championship in April. His consistency has been a standout, but Norris has clawed back the advantage in three of the last four races.

After a difficult period finishing second-best to Piastri, the Briton has highlighted two races where he thinks he could’ve been smarter in the title battle.

Lando Norris thinks he could’ve been ‘smarter’ in China and Canada races

Norris has improved his pre-race approach this season, which has enabled him to keep the gap close to Piastri in pivotal moments throughout the season.

When asked if he had any races which he regrets in 2025, Norris picked two standout moments from the season so far.

“Probably the main one was China sprint qualifying. I think my lap was good enough for pole until the final hairpin, where I locked up. If I had that thought just before the braking zone: ‘It’s a long season. Don’t try and be a hero,’ then I wouldn’t have finished. I lost eight points there,” said Norris.

“If I go back to Canada, if I could rerun that and just be a little bit smarter and not take so much risk. Could I have not lost a few points there? Yes. But I wouldn’t say I regret those moments.

“Do I wish I could do it again? Yeah. But at the same time, I don’t regret making those decisions. Because I think that’s me, that’s life, and that’s the way it goes. Sometimes it goes your way, and you get lucky, sometimes it goes the other way and you don’t make the best decisions.”

How many points have Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lost in the 2025 F1 title fight?

Norris has only scored zero points in one Grand Prix this year so far, which was the Canadian Grand Prix. This was after he collided with Piastri in the closing stages, although Norris was quick to own up to his mistake.

Jolyon Palmer thinks Piastri should be at least 61 points ahead of Norris if he had a “bit of luck,” after the Australian fell victim to some unfortunate penalties and mishaps.

The biggest was in Australia when he missed out on 16 points after his spin, then there was a six-point swing in Imola, 14 points lost in Silverstone, and another 14 points lost in Hungary.

Norris has had more points go his way in the last couple of races, but those two key moments in China and Canada, plus mistakes in Japan and Saudi Arabia GP qualifying, have handed points to Piastri.