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Were it not already a sweltering sauna in the Marina Bay circuit, the increasing intensity of this year's F1 world championship would be sufficient to make all but the most stoic competitor wilt. Withstanding the stress may determine the difference between McLaren's Norris and Piastri as the championship contest ratchets up with each grand prix.

This Title Fight Is Extremely Close

Including this round's race in Singapore, seven races remain and the title race is finely poised. Piastri leads his teammate by 25 points. Each are allowed to compete each other and with Max Verstappen still a distant 69 points behind, it is a direct battle, with little to choose the two McLaren drivers.

Drawing from Previous Winners

F1's most seasoned and accomplished competitors are familiar with this scenario all too well. In 2007, when Hamilton just failed to win securing the title in the final race at Brazil in his first year, it taught him the distinct pressure of a championship fight.

“I recall the lead-up to those races at the conclusion and the pressure was present,” he stated. “That was not needed. Had I known then what I know now, I would have easily won that title, I think. I've realized to avoid adding pressure that’s unneeded.”

Step Into the Pressure Cooker

Step forward, the McLaren duo, to the intense environment. The upper hand thus far has swung between them. Lando has five victories to Oscar's seven and the duo have barely been off the podium in a McLaren that has been the best on the grid. The Australian has been steadier, with his teammate struggling to adjust to a lack of feel for traction from the front axle. Even so, they have dominated, the gap between them often only who could perform flawlessly, across qualifying and the grand prix.

Expensive Errors for Norris

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 losing the points advantage after crashing out in the qualifying session in Jeddah. Then, worst of all, too aggressive in Canada he hit his partner and retired, an massive setback.

Piastri's Steadiness and Small Errors

Piastri, notably in just his third year in Formula One, has been more comfortable. For some time sliding off at the first race in the wet in Albert Park was his only fault and one which was excusable in the unexpected downpour. Subsequently, the Australian was also caught out and surpassed by an alert Verstappen at Emilia-Romagna, while his mistake and sanction for “erratic braking” under the yellow flag at the British Grand Prix cost him a probable victory.

Recent Difficulties in Baku

Yet, these were small issues against a major incident at the last round in Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, the McLaren driver hit the wall in qualifying leaving him ninth on the grid, only to compound it with a false start, the car entering anti-stall and dropping him to the back of the field.

Trying to gain positions on the first lap, he misread the traction and finished in the wall, an uncharacteristic series of errors that he acknowledged he could cannot repeat in this weekend's race.

“Baku was a strong lesson of how rapidly everything can change,” he commented. “There are takeaways about how I can deal with that more effectively and lessons on risk I guess is the most accurate description to put it. No major changes that needs to be altered or that I am going to adjust.”

Learning from Past Examples

Both drivers are, for all their talent, still refining their skills in F1, a path well trodden by other drivers on the grid. The opening years of Hamilton's time in F1 were outstanding, but he also made his share of mistakes. Piastri could take note of Sakhir in 2008, the year the seven-time champion took his maiden championship but which was marked by other mistakes as he found himself in an intense fight with Felipe Massa.

On the starting grid in Manama he had failed to properly configure the start procedure on his car and it entered anti-stall, dropping him down the grid. Soon after, trying to regain positions, he touched the back of Fernando Alonso's car and had to make a stop with a broken nose. He came thirteenth after a grand prix he called as “a catastrophe”.

Verstappen's Initial Career

Similarly Verstappen's early career were defined by errors as he gained experience. After a expensive incident in Monte Carlo in 2018 then team principal the Red Bull chief publicly demanded his driver to demonstrate greater control.

Max, also, accepted the advice, the inconsistency almost entirely eliminated when he started claiming titles. “This was character-building,” he remarked at the moment. “Throughout my life there have been times of personal growth and this was another step. Occasionally, it is not enjoyable but sometimes you need it.”

Closing Observations

Norris and Piastri are not yet at the level of the multiple champions so far but they are under the identical stress and absorbing the same lessons. As Niki Lauda observed, the first title is always the hardest. Closing this one out is the greatest test of their professional lives and will probably fall to the driver who can most effectively manage the pressure.