The Formulation 1 season resumes after its mini-break following the British Grand Prix with Lando Norris again on the entrance foot in what now almost-certainly seems to be an all-McLaren battle for 2025’s Drivers’ Championship.
This weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix marks the beginning of the second half of the 24-race marketing campaign with title-leading Oscar Piastri main team-mate Norris by simply eight factors on the prime of the standings.
Whereas a primary house victory at Silverstone landed in Norris’ lap considerably fortuitously courtesy of a 10-second penalty for the then-race-leading Piastri – a sanction which served to reverse the order of the McLaren drivers in that race – it nonetheless maintained the Briton’s momentum after victory over his team-mate the week earlier than in Austria, whereas additionally securing him consecutive wins in the identical season for the primary time.
So, with two extra grands prix to go earlier than the game pauses for many of August for its annual break, with Spa-Francorchamps and the Dash format up first earlier than a visit to Budapest for the Hungarian GP subsequent week, which of the McLaren drivers appears extra more likely to head for summer time on prime?
Is that this Norris’ ‘game-changer second’ in title race?
Three weeks could be a very long time in Formulation 1.
Twenty-one days earlier than taking the acclaim of the house crowd from the highest of the Silverstone podium, Norris’ title credentials had been totally dissected by the media after a self-admitted error of judgement on the Canadian GP had seen him hit the again of Piastri’s automotive when battling over fourth place.
Whereas Piastri nonetheless completed the race, Norris retired on the game and fell a season-high 22 factors behind his team-mate within the standings. The incident clearly risked additional damaging the Brit’s confidence in a season which had already seen him make quite a few errors at essential phases of qualifying periods.
So the next back-to-back wins on the Purple Bull Ring and Silverstone proved well timed tonic for Norris, even with the information that the latter might properly not have occurred however for Piastri’s penalty. Nonetheless, having taken two thirds out of that 22-point deficit within the house of two races, Norris may definitely be happy together with his fortnight’s work.
And talking on The F1 Present after the dramatic occasions of Silverstone, Sky Sports activities F1 commentator David Croft prompt that Norris’ championship problem particularly might profit from such a interval of momentum.
“They are both supremely talented and they are both in the same car, so where are the margins that are going to win you a championship?” contemplated Croft.
“Oscar is a cool, calm, level-headed individual, an athlete who keeps a lid on his emotions. Lando can be very different to that. He likes to wear his heart on his sleeve. He likes to talk about his emotions. Sometimes, from the outside, you feel that those emotions can interfere with the process of being an elite athlete at that part.
“I am not saying that they make him worse or they make him higher. But when a kind of two drivers had been going to thrive on confidence and momentum, you’ll go together with Lando as the reply to that.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Norris was smiling from ear to ear in his post-race interview after a really particular first British Grand Prix win
“When such fine margins are probably going to decide a championship, a bit of luck going your way can make a massive difference. You win championships with consistency, with excellence, but also a little bit of luck. At Silverstone, he got that with Piastri’s penalty.
“When issues are going properly for him, he has a spring in his step and he drives that a lot better as a result of he has that confidence. May this be the game-changing second?
“As we go to Spa, a track that he absolutely adores and we have seen him be very fast at in the past, if in the next two races, he could get to the summer break and be ahead, that to me makes a massive difference to Lando Norris.”
How necessary will momentum be in F1 title race?
Montreal stays the one race within the final 11 that the constant Piastri has not completed on the rostrum, nevertheless it’s additionally true to say that the championship has gained solely one of many final six Grands Prix – Spain – whereas Norris has gained three of them.
1996 world champion Damon Hill informed The F1 Present: “It’s like golf, where the guy is leading the whole way, but gradually the gap is getting smaller.
“When the hole is getting smaller, that will get into your head. Oscar now is aware of he is misplaced a bonus.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Check out why Piastri was given a 10-second penalty on the British Grand Prix
“Luck plays a part and big drops of 25 points can happen. But the momentum psychologically, I think, is now with Lando because he’s beaten Oscar also in Austria.
“Oscar has bought the benefit for the time being and Lando goes to must dig deep and work arduous. There’s going to be there’s nothing between them, so it is going to come right down to some luck.”
Current historical past reveals main the championship on the summer time break, which this 12 months will happen after subsequent weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, is insignificant.
In 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021, the championship chief in early August has not gone on to win the title.
Nevertheless, Croft and Hill assume it could possibly be necessary for Norris’ confidence to be forward of Piastri after Belgium and Hungary.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
David Croft asks whether or not Lando Norris’ British GP victory could possibly be the sport changer within the title race, because the McLaren driver chases down teammate Oscar Piastri
“We used to talk about this with Lewis Hamilton once upon a time about how strong he was towards the end of a season. Lando was really strong in the last six races last year,” mentioned Croft.
“Knowing that he’s had that bit of luck, the momentum’s with him, he’s got a chance to be leading after the Hungarian Grand Prix, and with some very favourable races to come at the end, this could do no end of good to Lando’s championship challenge.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments all through the years on the Belgian Grand Prix
Hill added: “There is such a thing as momentum. Don’t forget coming into the season, Lando had the expectation on his shoulders and Oscar in a way was in the luxurious position of not having all that pressure.
“Lando has are available in for a little bit of stick as a result of he is revealed a bit an excessive amount of about himself and it is actually handed a psychological benefit. He is recovered from that and he appears extra strong now. The arrogance is constructing.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Belgian GP schedule
Thursday July 24
1pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
Friday July 25
7.55am: F3 Practice
9.05am: F2 Practice
11am: Practice One (session starts at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)
Saturday July 26
8.10am: F3 Sprint
10am: Belgian GP Sprint (lights out at 11am)
12.20pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
12.40pm: F2 Sprint
2pm: Belgian GP Qualifying (session starts at 3pm)
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday July 27
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Belgian GP build-up*
2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered flag: Belgian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix as the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
