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If it weren't already an intense heatwave in Singapore, the growing pressure of this season's Formula One title fight would be sufficient to make all but the most stoic competitor wilt. Handling the stress may prove the deciding factor between McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as the championship contest intensifies with every race.

This Title Fight Remains Extremely Close

Starting with this weekend's meeting in Marina Bay, seven grands prix remain and the title race is finely poised. Piastri is ahead of his British rival by twenty-five points. Each are free to race each other and with the Red Bull driver still a distant 69 in arrears, it is a direct contest, with little to choose between them.

Drawing from Previous Champions

F1's most seasoned and accomplished drivers are familiar with this situation very clearly. In 2007, when Lewis Hamilton just failed to win securing the championship in the final race at Brazil in his debut season, it showed him the distinct pressure of a championship fight.

“I remember the buildup to those races at the conclusion 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 title, I think. I've realized not to add pressure that’s unneeded.”

Welcome the Cauldron

Step forward, Norris and Piastri, to the cauldron. The advantage thus far has swung between them. Lando has five victories to Oscar's seven and the duo have barely been off the top three in a McLaren that has been the class of the field. The Australian has been more consistent, with his British rival struggling to adjust to a lack of feel for grip from the front axle. Even so, they have excelled, the difference separating them often only who could perform flawlessly, across qualifying and the grand prix.

Costly Errors for Lando

In this aspect Norris has been lacking, minor mistakes were damaging in Shanghai, more so after a disappointing Saturday in Sakhir and even more troubling when surrendering the championship lead after hitting the barriers in the qualifying session in Jeddah. Then, worst of all, over-eager in Canada he collided with his teammate and retired, an enormous blow.

Oscar's Consistency and Minor Errors

The young driver, notably in just his third year in F1, has been more at ease. For a while sliding off at the season opener in the wet in Albert Park was his sole error and one which was excusable in the unexpected downpour. Later, the Melbourne native was also overtaken and passed by an opportunistic Max at Emilia-Romagna, while his misjudgment and penalty for “erratic braking” under the yellow flag at the British Grand Prix cost him a probable victory.

Recent Difficulties in Azerbaijan

However, these were minor hiccups against something of a debacle at the last round in Baku. In Baku, the McLaren driver hit the wall in the qualifying session putting him in ninth position, only to follow it with a false start, the car entering anti-stall mode and sending him to the rear of the pack.

Trying to gain positions on the opening lap, he misjudged the grip and finished in the wall, an unusual series of errors that he acknowledged he could cannot repeat in Singapore.

“Baku was a strong lesson of how rapidly everything can change,” he commented. “There are takeaways about how I can handle that better and insights on risk I suppose is the best way to put it. No major changes that require to change or that I am going to adjust.”

Gaining from History

The pair are, for all their talent, still refining their skills in Formula One, a path often traveled by some of their peers on the grid. The opening years of Lewis's career were outstanding, but he also made his share of mistakes. Piastri could learn of Bahrain in 2008, the year the multiple title winner won his first title but which was marked by additional errors as he was engaged in an intense fight with his Ferrari rival.

On the starting grid in Manama he had not managed to properly configure the launch control on his McLaren and it entered anti-stall, relegating him to the back. Shortly afterwards, chasing places, he clipped the back of the Renault driver's Renault and had to make a stop with a damaged front wing. He finished thirteenth after a race he called as “a catastrophe”.

Verstappen's Early Development

In the same way Verstappen's first years were defined by misjudgments as he gained experience. After one costly crash in Monte Carlo in 2018 then boss the Red Bull chief publicly demanded his racer to show more discipline.

Verstappen, also, accepted the advice, the waywardness all but gone when he started claiming championships. “This has just been a learning experience,” he remarked at the time. “Throughout my life there have been times of personal growth and this was another step. Sometimes, it is not enjoyable but at times you require it.”

Final Thoughts

Norris and Piastri are not yet at the level of the multiple champions yet but they are facing the same pressure and learning the same lessons. As Niki Lauda noted, the first title is always the most difficult. Securing this championship out is the biggest challenge of their professional lives and will likely fall to the driver who can best handle the pressure.