Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe believes the harmonious
relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start to
“fracture” as the season nears its end. Just seven rounds remain in
the 2025 season, with Piastri leading Norris by 25 points. The pair
have clashed once this year at the Canadian Grand Prix, however it
was quickly brushed under the carpet as Norris instantly accepted
blame. They have also complied with team orders as McLaren has
highlighted its desire to treat both drivers fairly and present
equal opportunities. Last time out in Baku, Piastri crashed in
qualifying and the race and walked away from a race weekend with
zero points for the first time this year. Hinchcliffe has suggested
a change in tone will start to emerge from the McLaren camp as the
title inches ever closer for the two contenders. “We’re now
starting to see those two drivers really appreciating and
understanding that we're on the home stretch of this season,”
Hinchliffe told the F1 Nation podcast. “We’re less than a third of
the way to go. A first drivers’ championship for either guy is up
for grabs. “This uncharacteristically friendly title rivalry that
we have going on and we've seen up to this point, I think it's
going to start to fracture a little bit as the pressure really
mounts.” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella stated after the race
weekend that Piastri has presented himself as the most consistent
driver on the grid this year. Having enjoyed a mostly error-free
campaign en route to leading the standings with seven rounds to go,
Hinchcliffe highlighted his surprise with Piastri's run of mistakes
throughout the Baku event. “Certainly the mistakes that Oscar made
[were] very uncharacteristic,” he said. “The false start was kind
of the beginning of the end for him and then just frankly,
miscalculating it and overcooking it into turn five, ending up in
the wall. “Those ones are surprising, those ones are
uncharacteristic, but overall, it was a tough weekend out there for
every driver.”
relationship between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start to
“fracture” as the season nears its end. Just seven rounds remain in
the 2025 season, with Piastri leading Norris by 25 points. The pair
have clashed once this year at the Canadian Grand Prix, however it
was quickly brushed under the carpet as Norris instantly accepted
blame. They have also complied with team orders as McLaren has
highlighted its desire to treat both drivers fairly and present
equal opportunities. Last time out in Baku, Piastri crashed in
qualifying and the race and walked away from a race weekend with
zero points for the first time this year. Hinchcliffe has suggested
a change in tone will start to emerge from the McLaren camp as the
title inches ever closer for the two contenders. “We’re now
starting to see those two drivers really appreciating and
understanding that we're on the home stretch of this season,”
Hinchliffe told the F1 Nation podcast. “We’re less than a third of
the way to go. A first drivers’ championship for either guy is up
for grabs. “This uncharacteristically friendly title rivalry that
we have going on and we've seen up to this point, I think it's
going to start to fracture a little bit as the pressure really
mounts.” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella stated after the race
weekend that Piastri has presented himself as the most consistent
driver on the grid this year. Having enjoyed a mostly error-free
campaign en route to leading the standings with seven rounds to go,
Hinchcliffe highlighted his surprise with Piastri's run of mistakes
throughout the Baku event. “Certainly the mistakes that Oscar made
[were] very uncharacteristic,” he said. “The false start was kind
of the beginning of the end for him and then just frankly,
miscalculating it and overcooking it into turn five, ending up in
the wall. “Those ones are surprising, those ones are
uncharacteristic, but overall, it was a tough weekend out there for
every driver.”
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