Lewis Hamilton tells Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris the ‘key’ to beating Max Verstappen to F1 title

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Lewis Hamilton has “seen” what McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris need for one of them to beat Max Verstappen to the 2025 drivers’ title from the Red Bull racer.

Just 40 points now separate Piastri atop the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship from Verstappen in third place ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix this week. Norris also trails Piastri by only 14 points after he, like Verstappen, outscored the Australian in each of the past four rounds.

Piastri had led Norris by 34 points and Verstappen by 104 as recently as the end of August after he won the Dutch Grand Prix. Yet the tide has turned in favour of the Red Bull driver, as his crew are still upgrading the RB21 while McLaren are focusing on the 2026 F1 regulations.

Red Bull debuted a floor update at Monza that helped Verstappen win the Italian Grand Prix from pole position. Verstappen also sealed P2 in front of Norris and Piastri in P3 and P4 after Red Bull had an upgraded front wing in Singapore that made the RB21 a rival for the MCL39.

Lewis Hamilton tells Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris that ‘consistency is key’ to beating Max Verstappen to the F1 title

Red Bull aim to run more upgrades at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in round 22 of this year’s 24, as well, to help Verstappen complete what could be the biggest title comeback in F1 history. Verstappen could even join Michael Schumacher as the only driver to win five titles in a row.

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

So, Hamilton feels consistency will be “key” for Piastri or Norris to beat Verstappen and win the 2025 F1 drivers’ title. The Ferrari star has seen the consistency that the papaya pals will need from the Red Bull ace, who has also shown the “cut-throat” nature a champion needs.

Hamilton said, via BBC Sport: “In that scenario, it’s challenging. The pressure is high. It is a time when you have to put your blinkers up and block everything from the outside.

“You have to be cut-throat, and that is what Max is. He is going to take this from them if they don’t do the same. You have to dig deep to hold off someone like Max and the car he is in.

“But, also, for either of them to come out ahead, consistency is key. And you’ve seen that from Max in the last few races.”

Max Verstappen is showing the title-winning consistency that Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris need

Piastri admits Verstappen’s consistency has been a “surprise”, having seen the Red Bull star cut his 104-point lead down to 40 points through the last four rounds. Verstappen gained 25 points on the McLaren driver in Baku and a further 23 points in Austin last weekend, as well.

Verstappen fully capitalised on Piastri crashing out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in round 17, as he won from pole. The Dutchman even won from pole after Piastri crashed into Norris in the COTA Sprint and won the United States GP from pole with the papaya pals in P2 and P5.

McLaren have rescinded Norris’ sporting repercussions after Piastri’s crash at COTA, as well, with the Briton and Australian given equal status at the Woking team while Verstappen has Red Bull’s full support. Yuki Tsunoda will do what he can to help Verstappen secure the title.

So, like Hamilton says, consistency will be key for Piastri or Norris to beat Verstappen to the 2025 F1 drivers’ title. Verstappen has not finished lower than P2 in the past five Grands Prix, while Piastri and Norris’ average results from four finishes were P3.25 and P3.5 respectively.