Lando Norris snubbed as 19-DNF F1 rival backed to deny the McLaren driver his third Austrian Grand Prix podium

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Lando Norris will try to claim his third career podium finish at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, as the McLaren driver strives to bounce back from his crash in Canada.

The Briton produced his first retirement since last season’s Austrian GP two weeks ago when Norris crashed into his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, in Montreal. A simple mistake held big consequences as Norris misjudged a chance to get fourth place from his 2025 title rival.

Norris crashed into the rear of Piastri’s car in the Canadian GP, having failed to spot that the Australian did not leave a gap for any overtake up the inside along the pit straight on Lap 66 of 70. He is also now 22 points from Piastri atop the F1 drivers’ standings ahead of round 11.

Piastri’s 22-point lead after the Canadian GP is also his biggest margin over Norris thus far in the 2025 F1 season. So, the latter will strive to respond at the Red Bull Ring, where Red Bull racer Max Verstappen crashed into Norris in the 2024 Austrian GP while fighting for the win.

Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen and George Russell backed to beat Lando Norris for the 2025 Austrian GP podium

Yet despite Norris needing a bounce-back performance in the foothills of the Styrian Alps on Sunday, Robert Doornbos doubts that the McLaren driver will reach the rostrum in the 2025 Austrian GP. He also expects Piastri will take his lead in the standings to a full Grand Prix win.

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

Doornbos does not hold out much hope for Norris at the Austrian GP as the former Red Bull driver expects Piastri, Verstappen and Mercedes star George Russell to lock out the podium positions. He sees the trio as the in-form drivers after their displays during the Canadian GP.

“I think the three men who are in form, who were also on the podium in Canada,” Doornbos told RacingNews365 while offering his prediction ahead of the 2025 Austrian GP this week.

“George Russell got wings there. Max Verstappen, of course, performed amazingly there again. But especially Oscar Piastri, the man in form. I expect all three of them to be there.”

Lando Norris will want his third Austrian Grand Prix podium to limit Oscar Piastri’s 2025 championship lead

Norris has not failed to finish back-to-back Grands Prix on the podium in the last 11 rounds, dating back to the 2024 Las Vegas GP and Qatar GP. The 25-year-old was also likely to win in Austria last season if Norris were more patient to overtake Verstappen instead of at Turn 3.

It was also at the Red Bull Ring in 2020 that Norris scored the first podium of his F1 career as Last Lap Lando was also born. The McLaren ace delivered the lap of his dreams to capitalise on Lewis Hamilton’s five-second penalty for P3 in the 2020 edition, and also got P3 in 2021.

READ MORE: Most successful drivers at the Austrian GP of all time and at the Red Bull Ring

Norris will now want to claim his third Austrian GP podium to prevent losing further ground to Piastri in the drivers’ standings after recording the 13th retirement of his F1 career so far in Canada. Piastri last retired from a Grand Prix in the 2023 United States GP for his third DNF.

Russell has also not retired from a Grand Prix since the Mercedes star penned his 19th DNF to date in the 2024 British GP. Verstappen has 32 DNFs to date, but he has not failed to take the chequered flag since retiring from the 2024 Australian GP due to his brakes overheating.

Achieving at least a podium in the Austrian GP could also help Norris prevent McLaren from imposing team orders that benefit Piastri amid their title fight. Their Canadian GP crash has seen McLaren discuss how to manage Norris, as well, as the team tries to avoid any repeats.