Lando Norris critic left impressed in title picture boost: 'He's up for the fight'

Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has noted that Lando Norris is "up for the fight" to win the F1 drivers' title, but still expects Oscar Piastri to be crowned world champion. 

Steiner has been vocal of Norris' mistakes this season, as recently as the Canadian Grand Prix following the British driver's shock error which caused a crash with Piastri. 

If not for that crash, Norris would enter the summer break with a one-point lead in the standings, rather than nine points adrift of Piastri. 

Norris has responded remarkably since his Montreal retirement, to the extent that he has won three of the last four races. His most recent win came in the Hungarian Grand Prix, where a one-stop strategy elevated him from fourth to first after a poor start.

Piastri, Charles Leclerc and George Russell all opted for a safe two-stop strategy, with McLaren's gamble on Norris' side of the garage having paid off.

Despite praising Norris' current run of results, Steiner does not believe the 25-year-old has the momentum in the title fight, but that a scrap for the crown has been set up for the final 10 races.

Asked on the Red Flags podcast if Norris got lucky in Hungary or now has the momentum, Steiner answered: "No, neither of the two. 

"It's a sign of we have got a nice championship in front of us, because it's not done until it's finished this championship, because there's always some surprises. But what I think, who will be world champion, I don't have to repeat that, I'm still Oscar. 

"But for me, the good thing is, with Lando, even when everybody was doubting him, not being critical, doubting him if he can be a world champion, because he's folding under pressure and all that good stuff, me being part of that group of people.

"He, as you said, he's won three out of the last four races. So that's not too bad. That's not a lot of folding going on there. 

"So he's up for the fight, which is interesting. And McLaren is very good to let them keep on fighting. It looks like they don't give any team orders."