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If it weren't already an intense heatwave in Singapore, the growing pressure of this year's Formula One world championship would be enough to make even the toughest driver struggle. Handling the pressure may determine the deciding factor between McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as the title battle intensifies with every race.

This Championship Battle Remains Extremely Close

Including this round's meeting in Marina Bay, seven grands prix remain and the championship is extremely tight. Piastri leads his British rival by 25 points. Each are allowed to compete each other and with the Red Bull driver still a significant 69 in arrears, it is a head-to-head battle, with little to choose the two McLaren drivers.

Drawing from Previous Champions

Formula One's most seasoned and successful drivers know this situation all too well. In 2007, when Hamilton narrowly missed securing the championship in the final race at Brazil in his first year, it taught him the unique challenge of a title tilt.

“I remember the buildup to those races at the end and the stress was there,” he stated. “That was unnecessary. Had I known then what I understand today, I would have easily won that championship, I think. I have learned to avoid adding pressure that’s unnecessary.”

Welcome the Pressure Cooker

Welcome then, Norris and Piastri, to the cauldron. The advantage so far has swung between them. Norris has five wins to Piastri's seven and the duo have barely been off the podium in a McLaren car that has been the best on the grid. Piastri has been more consistent, with his British rival struggling to adjust to a reduced sensation for grip from the front tires. Nonetheless, they have excelled, the difference separating them often just who could perform flawlessly, across qualifying and the race.

Costly Mistakes for Lando

In this aspect the British driver has been found wanting, minor mistakes were costly in Shanghai, more so after a disappointing Saturday in Sakhir and even more troubling when losing the championship lead after crashing out in qualifying in Jeddah. Then, worst of all, over-eager in Montreal he hit his partner and retired, an enormous blow.

Piastri's Consistency and Minor Errors

The young driver, notably in only his third season in F1, has been more at ease. For some time spinning out at the season opener in the rain in Albert Park was his sole error and one which was forgivable in the sudden rain. Subsequently, the Australian was also caught out and surpassed by an opportunistic Max at Emilia-Romagna, while his misjudgment and penalty for “erratic braking” under the safety car at Silverstone denied him a probable victory.

Recent Difficulties in Azerbaijan

However, these were small issues against a major incident at the last round in Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the McLaren driver crashed out in the qualifying session putting him in ninth position, only to compound it with a false start, the car entering anti-stall and dropping him to the rear of the pack.

Chasing places on the opening lap, he misjudged the grip and ended in the barriers, an uncharacteristic series of mistakes that he acknowledged he could ill afford in this weekend's race.

“Baku was quite a good reminder of how rapidly things can turn around,” he said. “There are takeaways about how I can handle that more effectively and lessons on risk I suppose is the most accurate description to describe it. No major changes that require to be altered or that I am going to change.”

Gaining from History

Both drivers are, for all their ability, still honing their skills in Formula One, a journey often traveled by some of their peers on the grid. The opening years of Hamilton's time in F1 were exceptional, but he also made his share of errors. The McLaren driver could learn of Sakhir in 2008, the year the multiple title winner took his first title but which was marked by additional errors as he was engaged in an intense fight with Felipe Massa.

On the starting grid in Bahrain he had failed to correctly set the launch control on his McLaren and it went into anti-stall, dropping him to the back. Soon after, chasing positions, he clipped the rear of the Renault driver's Renault and had to pit with a broken front wing. He came 13th after a race he called as “a catastrophe”.

Max's Initial Development

In the same way the Dutch driver's first years were defined by errors as he gained experience. After one costly crash in Monte Carlo in 2018 then team principal Christian Horner openly called for his driver to demonstrate greater control.

Verstappen, too, took it on board, the inconsistency all but gone when he started claiming titles. “This was character-building,” he remarked at the moment. “In my career there have been times of character-building and this was one more stage. Sometimes, it is not enjoyable but sometimes you need it.”

Final Observations

Norris and Piastri are not up with Hamilton and Verstappen yet but they are facing the same pressure and learning the identical insights. As Niki Lauda observed, the first title is invariably the most difficult. Securing this championship out is the greatest test of their careers and will likely fall to the driver who can best handle the pressure.