Danner: McLaren's title battle will 'explode'

      "There has already been a confrontation between the two in Montreal."

      As Formula 1 returns from the August break, the competition for the 2025 world championship appears to be a direct contest between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The duo maintains that their relationship won’t devolve into a rivalry akin to Prost-Senna or Alonso-Hamilton, yet former F1 driver Christian Danner expresses some skepticism. He notes that McLaren’s success was anticipated. "Yes, that was predictable, as they’ve developed a car that excels on all types of circuits and in various weather conditions," he stated to Express. "Even when things aren't completely right, both Norris and Piastri still make it to the podium. What surprises me, however, is that Mercedes has completely taken a wrong turn."

      Regarding the interaction between the two drivers, Danner acknowledges that it bears resemblance to past intra-team rivalries. "Yes, definitely," he affirmed when asked if it mirrors Hamilton versus Rosberg at Mercedes. "The tension is mounting. Everyone is still appearing calm, as there are many races left. But if this trend continues, there will be an explosion."

      "There has already been a confrontation between the two in Montreal. When the championship title is at stake, the enjoyment is over." Indeed, Norris collided with Piastri in Canada, with Nico Rosberg even offering advice to Norris afterward. Danner mentions that Norris has bounced back since then, but the pressure will only escalate. "That applies to both the driver and the team," he remarked. "You have to adapt to winning. And being able to maintain that composure to convert winning into a championship is the next challenge.

      "Currently, I only see progress - with the team, with Norris, and also with Piastri. They’re all improving, which is why I say: the pressure is increasing." Danner also commented on Lewis Hamilton’s challenges at Ferrari. "As long as Leclerc can achieve pole position and consistently reach the podium, while Hamilton struggles to perform at that level, it’s likely Hamilton will face difficulties with the system," he observed. "If you’ve spent your entire career driving for English racing teams and are accustomed to their methods, you naturally attempt to replicate that at Ferrari. However, that approach isn't working for Hamilton - no one at Maranello is concerned about that.

      "That’s why I believe the whispers in the paddock about him possibly quitting are definitely a possibility. We’ll see how things unfold."