Why Norris has become the real man to beat in the championship race

Hands up if you thought we’d be leaving Mexico with a new championship leader. What looked like another weekend set to keep Oscar Piastri on top has instead turned into a real headache for the Australian — who not only has stopped winning, but now seems to have forgotten how to even reach the podium.

In the last four races, the Australian has managed a grand total of zero podiums and just 32 points — an average of eight per weekend. Hardly encouraging numbers for a driver with championship ambitions, especially one who, before the summer break, was regularly finishing either on the top step or as runner-up.

By contrast, Norris reached the peak of his current form in Mexico — a run that, paradoxically, began after his costly retirement at Zandvoort.

Rather than knocking his confidence, it seemed to strengthen him, paving the way for his resurgence and eventual return to the top of the championship — his first time leading since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix back in April.

In the last five races, Norris has outscored his teammate by a staggering 54 points — further proof that the two McLaren drivers are currently heading in opposite directions.

Interestingly, just like last year — coincidence or not — the Brit has found top gear in the final stretch of the season. Back then, he was instrumental in securing the Constructors’ title in Abu Dhabi, delivering an almost flawless performance under immense pressure.

In the short break leading up to the fourth-to-last round of the season, Norris will not only enjoy his time off as championship leader but, more importantly, carry all the momentum on his side.

That shift is bound to pile even more pressure — and doubt — on his teammate, who so far has struggled to rediscover the form that kept him on top of the standings for most of the year.

One could almost say that Norris should now be more worried about the threat of Max Verstappen — who managed to climb onto the podium in Mexico despite struggling to match the leaders’ pace for much of the race — than about his own teammate.

The next race could already prove to be a decisive turning point in the championship run-in. Piastri has used up all his lifelines and now, from being the hunted, must become the hunter — but with Norris in this kind of form, shifting the momentum back in his favour will be anything but easy.

The only sour note in an otherwise near-perfect weekend for Norris came after the race, when he was booed by Mexican fans.

According to a Mexican journalist, the reaction stemmed from supporters who believe McLaren is “handing him the title” after the Monza team orders — which earned him three extra points over Piastri.

The Brit naturally addressed the incident, saying that “people can do what they want,” while adding more insight during the post-race press conference about how it felt to be booed by the crowd.