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Were it not already an intense heatwave in Singapore, the increasing intensity of this season's F1 title fight would be enough to make all but the most stoic competitor wilt. Withstanding the pressure may prove the deciding factor between McLaren's Norris and Piastri as the championship contest ratchets up with each grand prix.

This Championship Battle Is Extremely Close

Starting with this weekend's meeting in Singapore, seven races remain and the title race is finely poised. Piastri is ahead of his teammate by twenty-five points. Both are allowed to compete each other and with Max Verstappen still a significant 69 in arrears, it is a head-to-head contest, with very little separating the two McLaren drivers.

Drawing from Previous Winners

Formula One's most experienced and accomplished competitors are familiar with this scenario very clearly. In 2007, when Hamilton just failed to win winning the championship in the final race at Brazil in his first year, it showed him the unique challenge of a title tilt.

“I recall the buildup to those races at the end and the pressure was there,” he stated. “That was not needed. If I knew then what I understand today, I would have comfortably secured that championship, I think. I've realized to avoid adding pressure that’s unnecessary.”

Step Into the Pressure Cooker

Welcome then, Norris and Piastri, to the intense environment. The upper hand thus far has shifted from one to the other. Norris has five wins to Piastri's seven wins and the duo have scarcely missed the podium in a McLaren that has been the best on the grid. Piastri has been more consistent, with his teammate finding it hard to adjust to a lack of feel for grip from the front tires. Nonetheless, they have dominated, the gap between them often only who could perform flawlessly, across qualifying and the race.

Costly Errors for Lando

In this aspect Norris has been found wanting, minor mistakes were costly in Shanghai, especially after a disappointing Saturday in Sakhir and even more troubling when surrendering the points advantage after crashing out in qualifying in Saudi Arabia. Then, worst of all, too aggressive in Canada he collided with his partner and went out, an enormous setback.

Piastri's Consistency and Minor Slip-ups

The young driver, notably in only his third season in F1, has been more comfortable. For some time spinning out at the season opener in the wet in Albert Park was his only fault and one which was excusable in the sudden rain. Subsequently, the Australian was also caught out and passed by an opportunistic Verstappen at Imola, while his misjudgment and penalty for “unpredictable slowing” under the yellow flag at the British Grand Prix cost him a probable victory.

Latest Struggles in Baku

However, these were minor hiccups against a major incident at the previous race in Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the McLaren driver crashed out in qualifying leaving him ninth on the grid, only to compound it with a false start, the car going into anti-stall mode and dropping him to the back of the field.

Chasing positions on the opening lap, he misread the grip and finished in the barriers, an uncharacteristic series of mistakes that he admitted he could ill afford in Singapore.

“Baku was a strong lesson of how quickly things can turn around,” he commented. “There's some lessons about how I can deal with that more effectively and insights on taking chances I guess is the most accurate description to describe it. No major changes that needs to change or that I am going to adjust.”

Learning from History

The pair are, for all their ability, still honing their abilities in F1, a journey well trodden by other drivers on the grid. The opening years of Lewis's time in F1 were exceptional, but he also made his fair share of errors. The McLaren driver could take note of Bahrain in 2008, the year the seven-time champion won his first title but which was characterized by additional errors as he was engaged in an intense fight with his Ferrari rival.

On the starting grid in Bahrain he had not managed to correctly set the launch control on his McLaren and it entered anti-stall, relegating him to the back. Soon after, chasing positions, he touched the back of the Renault driver's car and had to pit with a damaged nose. He came 13th after a grand prix he called as “a disaster”.

Verstappen's Initial Development

Similarly Verstappen's early career were marked by errors as he gained experience. After a expensive incident in Monte Carlo in 2018 then boss Christian Horner publicly demanded his racer to demonstrate greater control.

Max, too, took it on board, the inconsistency almost entirely eliminated when he began winning championships. “This was a learning experience,” he remarked at the moment. “In my career there have been periods of character-building and this was another step. Occasionally, it is not enjoyable but at times you require it.”

Closing Thoughts

Norris and Piastri are not up with the multiple champions yet but they are facing the identical stress and absorbing the identical insights. As the legendary driver observed, the first title is always the most difficult. Securing this championship out is the biggest challenge of their careers and will probably be decided by the one who can most effectively manage the pressure.