Lando Norris outlines deciding factor in F1 title fight

Lando Norris has detailed the critical factor that will decide this year's F1 title fight.

Norris is currently embroiled in a championship battle with team-mate Oscar Piastri, who holds a 16-point advantage at the head of the drivers' championship as the summer break approaches.

McLaren has dominated the campaign so far, winning 10 out of the 13 races staged.

There has been little to choose in terms of pace between the two title protagonists in the first half of the campaign.

As a result, Norris asserted that whichever driver makes the fewest minor mistakes in qualifying or the race will be the champion at the end of the year.

“I think it’s probably down to the least mistakes, more than anything,” Norris told media including RacingNews365.

“It’s not simply who is outright the quickest or who can race better, or who makes the best overtakes.

“I have some of my strengths, he has some of his. It’s more down to these mistakes.”

There have been very few on-track battles between Norris and Piastri this year, with qualifying often being the deciding factor in who comes out on top.

Norris suggested it is a theme that may continue right until the end of the campaign, stating the first lap is the best opportunity they will have to beat each other.

“Especially with the position we are in as a team, we have one of the best cars in F1,” he said. “We’re first and second more often than not.

“Therefore, it’s more between us more than who qualifies first and sixth. It’s just [who] qualifies first and second more often, who can hold on through Turn 1 and go from there.

“There have not been many races where positions have swapped throughout a race.

“It’s more who can make the least mistakes.”