Lando Norris told what he’s still ‘missing’ in Oscar Piastri battle despite Austrian Grand Prix dominance

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Lando Norris achieved his third win of the 2025 Formula 1 season in dominant fashion at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Brit was in desperate need of a bounce-back in form after his disaster at the Canadian GP. Norris collided with Piastri on lap 67 while attempting to pass down the main straight, taking himself out of the race.

With his McLaren teammate extending his lead in the championship to 22 points, Norris needed a response at the Austrian Grand Prix. It did not look like it would get off to a good start as Norris made way for Alex Dunne in FP1, limiting his preparations.

But that had little effect on the 25-year-old as he took pole position by over half a second, the largest pole margin of the season. After an early safety car caused by Max Verstappen’s crash with Kimi Antonelli, Norris fended off Piastri in a brilliant battle to claim victory.

McLaren insiders were telling Norris to ‘rein it in’ in qualifying, as he put himself at risk of making a mistake by pushing flat out. Thankfully, he did not let up his performance on Saturday or Sunday as he maximised a perfect weekend.

Piastri secured McLaren’s fourth 1-2 finish of 2025 as his championship lead is cut down to 15 points. With Verstappen’s retirement, Norris now has a strong buffer over his 2024 rival to challenge his teammate for the title.

Robert Doornbos says Lando Norris is still ‘missing’ consistency in his battle with Oscar Piastri

But despite his dominance in Austria, Robert Doornbos says Norris is still ‘missing’ consistency in the championship battle. The McLaren duo have both been off the podium twice, but Piastri has extracted the most every weekend, with five wins and three poles and regularly outqualifying his teammate.

Speaking via The Pit Talk Podcast, Doornbos thinks Norris’ inconsistency may ‘hurt him’ in the final races of the season: “I think Lando has a great mental growth at the moment, but I don’t see the consistency.

“So, to win a championship, you cannot crash out one race and apologise and then the next race be dominating.

“Which he definitely did, this weekend was his, considering he lost out FP1. Then there’s this pole position, half a second, on his own, a league of his own on this particular circuit.

“It’s a very small circuit in lap time as well and then being half a second clear of the field is impressive, then winning the race, stunning.

“But next weekend at Silverstone, if he makes another mistake like he did in Canada. So that’s what I am missing with Lando, and considering to Oscar, who’s delivering week in, week out.

“He will finish second or third if he can’t win in. And instead of Lando, if he can’t win it, he crashes out or he finishes fourth or fifth, he has something going on. The inconsistency, I think will hurt him in the end.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Lando Norris must keep the momentum going to beat Oscar Piastri in 2025

The Austrian GP was exactly what the Brit needed after a nightmare weekend in Canada. Norris appeared more level-headed before and after the race; this approach seemed to work wonders.

The McLaren driver was arguably too critical of his mistakes in the past, but there are still concerns about his demeanour, despite a noticeable change in Austria. Damon Hill thinks Norris has gone in the other direction and says he should be worried about losing the title.

Piastri has been the more consistent driver in 2025, extracting the most out of the MCL39 and consistently fighting for top positions on Saturday and Sunday. Mistakes during qualifying and in his racecraft have hampered Norris and put him on the back foot.

Norris found Piastri ‘tough’ to race in Austria as he struggled to get clear of DRS range. His McLaren teammate will not let the Brit win races lying down, especially not this weekend at his home race at Silverstone.