Why Piastri’s F1 title still looks secure, but Verstappen could edge out Norris for second place

Yes, he was magnificent in Baku to record back-to-back wins and give the optimists a slither of hope that there is more life in this championship yet.

Piastri’s error on the opening lap, a botched start followed by a race-ending duff into the barriers, was a rarity, nothing more than that. By the time he addressed the media in Azerbaijan, and after having watched some of the race from the side of the track on a mobile phone, Piastri was calm and philosophical about the result.

Having admitted to errors, he remained upbeat, noting that a poor qualifying lap from his teammate Lando Norris had softened the damage. Speaking calmly in the media pen, he insisted the priority was learning from the execution mistakes and moving on.

Team principal Andrea Stella, who worked alongside Michael Schumacher during Ferrari’s peak, drew a telling parallel.

Even Schumacher endured weekends where misjudgments multiplied, but the key was always in processing them as one-offs. Stella stressed that Piastri’s reaction was typical of a champion in which he was self-critical without being destabilised, focused on recovery rather than regret.

This distinction matters because Norris, in similar circumstances, has often appeared weighed down by frustration. In recent weeks, Norris has adopted a different mindset, and that is positive, yet the 25-point lead the Australian holds over Norris, and his own mental resilience means he is in the box seat for this championship.

A year ago, when McLaren’s car was quicker than Red Bull’s, Norris left the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 69 points behind Verstappen. Despite Red Bull’s struggles at the time, few saw Norris as a genuine title threat.

The points gap did indeed narrow in subsequent races, but Verstappen’s authority meant the championship outcome was never really in doubt.

Now, from a similar deficit, Verstappen is the challenger with Stella admitting the Red Bull man was still a threat. Verstappen represents the highest benchmark of consistency and one that means he rarely leaves points on the table, which should be a concern for Norris, who remains respected for his speed, but not his ability to deliver consistent results.

The next key test comes in Singapore. It is one of only two circuits on the current calendar where Verstappen has yet to win, and its characteristics have traditionally not suited Red Bull’s set-up. Last year, he was blown away by Norris, who cruised to victory and started talks of him entering the race for the 2024 title that ultimately ended in disappointment.

The reality is that if Verstappen is to overhaul Piastri’s lead it would take something heroic and, at this stage at least, seems unlikely. However, what is entirely plausible is that he does manage to catch Norris for second place. Of course, he will see little merit in being first of the runners-up, but it could be of big significance for Norris and McLaren and how they go racing in future should the Brit miss out on second place.