Lando Norris’ F1 title challenge has been undermined by a series of errors in qualifying and races, prompting Nico Rosberg to change his championship prediction

The pressure is getting to Lando Norris, according to Nico Rosberg(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Lando Norris has lost the backing of Nico Rosberg following his latest error. The McLaren driver broke Formula 1’s golden rule by colliding with team-mate Oscar Piastri as they fought over fourth place in the closing stages of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The contact, which occurred on the pit straight, immediately put Norris out of the race and brought out the safety car. While the British driver accepted responsibility, Piastri was able to continue, taking fourth place to extend his lead over Norris to 22 points.

Norris went into 2025 as the favourite for the drivers’ title after an impressive 2024, which saw him fight eventual champion Max Verstappen for the crown. With McLaren possessing the fastest car, the 25-year-old made the perfect start by winning the season opener in Melbourne, but he has struggled since, making a string of mistakes under pressure in both qualifying and races.

Meanwhile, Piastri has been almost error-free. After 10 rounds of the 24 rounds, the Australian has won five races to Norris’ two. That has prompted 2016 world champion Rosberg to alter his pre-season title prediction, despite being a “big Lando fan”.

“He’s enormously talented and probably one of the most talented out there. He was my absolute favourite for the championship as well,” the German, who retired after beating Lewis Hamilton to the 2016 title, told the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

Asked if he had now changed his mind, Rosberg added: “Yes, it’s in Canada that I changed that. Oscar Piastri is now my favourite for the championship, because Lando has not yet been able to iron out these regular mistakes.

Norris after retiring from the Canadian Grand Prix(Image: Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

“At the moment, that’s what would cost him winning the championship. I don’t see him ironing them out at the moment We have to remember, too, that this is a new situation that they have never been in before. It’s so different from battling for fourth, fifth place, being the hunter and chasing the best of his generation in Max Verstappen.

“When you go into a season as a massive favourite to win the drivers’ championship, you have the car to win every race, that’s like a 10x difference in pressure. That’s what Lando and Oscar are now facing and that’s what’s caused the shift. Lando was the dominant [McLaren] driver last year and now Oscar has moved ahead. For me, it’s that pressure situation that has changed the dynamic.”

Norris has been brutally honest about his struggles. Speaking after his blunder in Montreal, he said: “Rule number one is not to make contact with your team-mate, and that’s what I did.

“McLaren is my family and I race for them every single weekend and try and do well for them on and off the track. So when I let them down like this and make a fool of myself like I did today, I have a lot of regret. I’m not proud of myself, I feel bad, so apologies to all of them.”

Rosberg is now backing Oscar Piastri for the F1 crown(Image: Getty)

Meanwhile, team principal Andrea Stella conceded the incident might affect Norris’ confidence going forward. The Italian said: “This may have an impact in terms of his confidence.

“We will have conversations, and the conversations may even be tough, but there’s no doubt over the support we give to Lando and over the fact that we will preserve our parity and equality in terms of how we go racing at McLaren between our two drivers.

“The situation would have been different if Lando did not take responsibility and apologise. Lando will have to show his character to overcome this kind of episode and make sure that he only takes the learnings to become a stronger driver.”

The title battle resumes at Austria’s Red Bull Ring at the end of June before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone the following weekend.