Source: REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
[Saba Sports News] When Lando Norris returned with a dominant performance, winning the pole position and the race in Austria, the focus of the paddock shifted to his teammate Oscar Piastri. Former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya raised a sharp question: Would the calm Australian rookie lose his composure if Norris continued to pressure him? Montoya’s questioning cut to the core: “Everyone has fears, and everyone suffers. If Norris keeps hitting Piastri, we will see another side of Piastri—his mental defense is facing unprecedented challenges.” In the first half of the season, Piastri once led Norris by 22 points, overtaking him in Spain and Canada. At that time, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher even claimed that McLaren had “chosen Piastri as the number one driver.” But the turning point in Austria proved that Norris has the ability to change the situation through track performance. Therefore, Montoya predicted: If Norris can maintain this pressure for several weeks, Piastri is sure to break down mentally.