Three races into 2025, Bernie Ecclestone says he’d already put his chips on Oscar Piastri. He hasn’t wavered since.
The former F1 boss told Blick he “bet on the Australian after just three races,” and doubled down with a jab in Norris’ direction: Piastri, he said, “goes his own way” and is “mentally far superior to Norris.” That’s not exactly gentle commentary with McLaren’s garage now hosting the title fight.
The shape of the championship backs up the storyline. Max Verstappen hung around early on, but the chase has narrowed to papaya-on-papaya. Piastri leads the standings, Norris is only nine points back after taking three wins from the last four grands prix, and there are 10 rounds to run. Verstappen, 97 points adrift of Piastri, needs a plot twist. The rest are watching this one from a distance.
Ecclestone’s read on the “mental” game will split opinions, not least because Norris has been open about his own headspace. Back in Saudi Arabia, he talked candidly about the tug-of-war between self-critique and confidence. He said he often dwells on the negatives and sometimes needs reminding of the obvious — the wins, the points, the podium streaks. He framed it as a strength with a costly edge: 95 percent helpful, that last few percent not so much.
That vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s part of why Norris is quick. And recently, he’s been ruthless. Three victories in four says the balance is tipping the right way, even if the radio can still sound like a wrestling match with himself.
Piastri, meanwhile, has settled into a serene groove. The Australian doesn’t usually broadcast much, which only fuels the sense of an operator who keeps his pulse at resting heart rate under fire. That kind of composure is catnip for old-school judges like Ecclestone.
Where does it leave McLaren? In a delicate sweet spot. The car’s quick, both drivers are delivering, and the title is almost certainly staying in-house if this pace holds. The hard bit is managing a civil war while squeezing every point. Nine points is nothing; one botched pit stop, one safety car at the wrong time, and the picture flips.
Ecclestone’s wager may still cash, but calling this on mental strength alone undersells the margins at play. With 10 to go, this fight looks less like a coronation and more like a coin flip — one decided by starts, strategy… and yes, the quiet between the ears.
