Since the Italian Grand Prix Norris has had a firm grasp on Piastri always finishing ahead of the Australian driver, who has failed to stop the collapse of his title bid so far, having forked over a lead he seemed poised to keep fully in control of just five race weekends ago.

Norris’s rocky start to the 2025 campaign and Piastri’s cool and relentless demeanor, now reversed, astonished Marko. “That's amazing,” he said to OE24. “Norris stayed cool in Brazil qualifying even after a botched first run and then struck. He has undergone a great mental transformation. So he will be difficult for Max to get [in the Drivers' title fight].”

Asked if former Supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s claims that McLaren were trying to help Norris win the title in detriment of Piastri,the 82-year-old Austrian refused to give the claims further life. “That's a rumor, it can never be proven. Piastri suddenly makes mistakes and Norris doesn't make any more, that's all,” he added.

Other theories that point to Piastri being given a subpar car after he wrecked his McLaren twice in Baku were also discarded by Marko. “That's not true. Piastri simply needs longer in the race to get going. At the end, he drives fast laps,” he concluded.

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