Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are separated by 40 points heading into the Mexican Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton warning the McLaren duo
Lewis Hamilton has urged Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to adopt a ‘ruthless’ approach against reigning world champion Max Verstappen as the trio fight for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship crown.
Going into this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, Piastri, Norris and Verstappen are split by 40 points, with the Red Bull ace sitting furthest behind in the standings.
Yet momentum appears to be with the defending champion, who has claimed victory in three of the previous five full-distance races, securing podium finishes on the remaining two occasions.
Hamilton knows all about the pressure that accompanies a championship scrap with Verstappen. The pair locked horns in an epic 2021 showdown, which concluded with the Red Bull star snatching the title on the final lap in Abu Dhabi. They clashed on the track numerous times throughout that memorable season.
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When asked whether he had guidance for the McLaren pair, Hamilton revealed to Sky Sports F1: “The pressure is high. It is a time where you have to put your blinkers up and block everything from the outside.
“There is so much coming in, positive and negative. Also, you really have to be cut-throat, and that is what Max is. He is going to take this from them if they don’t do the same.
“They have got to be pushing, and you have to dig deep, firstly, to be able to hold off someone like Max in the car that he is in at the moment. But for either of them to come out ahead, consistency is key, and we have seen that from Max in the last few races.”
Of the three championship hopefuls, Piastri faces the greatest scrutiny. The 24 year old departed the Dutch Grand Prix in early September holding a commanding 34-point lead over teammate Norris, with more than 100 points separating him from Verstappen.
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Despite his worrying recent performances, Piastri maintains his belief that he can reverse his fortunes. “I’d still rather be where I am than the other two,” he declared in Austin. “Definitely, Max and Red Bull have found a lot of pace since the summer break as well. We saw flashes of it at the start of the year, but it’s been consistent since then.
“I’ve been in fights that were as close or, at this point, even closer than what they are now. So I’ve got the evidence for myself that things can still turn out well, and I still fully believe that I can win the championship. This weekend has obviously been tough, and the gap has come down a little bit in the last few weekends.”