Marko assesses McLaren situation: 'Piastri seems mentally stronger'

In three of the past four Formula 1 races, Oscar Piastri managed to finish ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris and also secured his first victory. Does this mean Norris is slowly starting to overtake the 23-year-old Australian? Helmut Marko suspects that is the case and mentions a possible reason for this.

Marko rates Piastri higher than Norris

Piastri won his first F1 race in the Hungarian Grand Prix. It took team orders in the closing stages, but that had everything to do with McLaren's decision to give Norris an undercut over his opponents in the race. Norris ran out in front but had to hand over the lead to his teammate, who had been in the lead for most of the race.

At the next race, the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Piastri drove from fifth on the grid to second place. In the process, he came dangerously close to Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who were first and second, in the last few laps. Norris, however, got no further than P5 after starting in fourth. In doing so, both drivers had been gifted a place due to Russell's disqualification.

The results of late could mean a number of things, according to Marko. "I don't know what the points difference is between the two, but it strongly seems that Piastri is mentally stronger and has gradually caught up with Lando over the course of this season and is even faster at times. Let's wait and see how that will play out," said the Red Bull Racing consultant in conversation with Sky Sports. Norris is currently second in the championship with a 32-point lead over number four Piastri.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy