Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton has delivered invaluable advice laced with a stern warning to McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris amid their intense championship showdown with Max Verstappen in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Max Verstappen has clawed back 64 points from Piastri over the last four races, narrowing the Australian leader's advantage to 40 points. Following his commanding win at the United States Grand Prix, Verstappen affirmed that "the chance is there" for an improbable fifth world title, with 141 points up for grabs across the final five race weekends.
Piastri holds a slender 14-point edge over teammate Norris, who has built impressive momentum since his devastating retirement at the Dutch Grand Prix. As a seven-time world champion, Hamilton intimately understands the pressures of clashing with Verstappen, as evidenced by their legendary 2021 duel.
Hamilton's Advice: Focus and Ruthlessness Against Verstappen
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton highlighted the need to tune out external noise. "Obviously they've won championships in other categories," said the Ferrari driver. "In that scenario, it's challenging when you are in the team, the pressure is high. It's definitely a time where you really have to put your blinkers on. You have to block absolutely everything from the outside, because there's so much coming in—positive and negative."
He further cautioned that Verstappen won't hesitate to seize opportunities. "Also, you really have to be cutthroat. That's what Max is. He's going to take this from them if they don't do the same. They've got to be pushing and you've got to dig deep to be able to hold off someone like Max and the car that he is in at the moment, but also for either of them to come out ahead. Consistency is key and you've seen that from Max in the last few races."
This guidance arrives at a pivotal juncture, with Verstappen closing in on both McLaren drivers. Piastri must safeguard his narrow lead over Norris while the pair fends off the surging Red Bull threat.
Meanwhile, Hamilton expressed optimism about mastering his Ferrari after matching his season-best fourth in Austin. Yet, his buildup to the Mexico City Grand Prix faces a minor disruption, as the 40-year-old Briton is one of nine drivers sitting out Friday's first practice to accommodate rookies.
"I think we're still trying to extract more from this car. Last race I think we've got a lot out of the car. But there's a little bit more performance in this car and from track to track it's a little bit different again you don't know how strong everyone's gonna be," Hamilton noted. "Ferrari were very strong here last year, so I'm hoping that we can take the learnings that they had last year and find them this weekend. I anticipate the car's gonna feel quite a lot different to what I experienced last year here and the previous years that I've been here. I'm missing FP1, so this weekend learn to run straight away pretty much."
Skipping FP1 means Hamilton must hit the ground running in FP2, adding layers of challenge for a Ferrari squad gaining traction. Still, his track record at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit could prove invaluable for a strong showing.
2025 F1 Drivers' Standings Table (Post-US GP)
| POS | DRIVER | TEAM | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 285 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 271 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 245 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 210 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 195 |
Note: Table compiled based on reported point gaps, assuming Piastri's total at 285 points after the US GP. Remaining points: 141 from five races left.
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This three-way battle promises high drama through season's end, especially with McLaren's reliability pitted against Red Bull's pace. Hamilton urges Piastri and Norris to prioritize consistency while staying aggressive. For Verstappen, his three wins in four races serve as a potent weapon to overturn the deficit.
Hamilton hopes for more podiums in Ferrari, particularly in Mexico where the team excelled last year. With just five races remaining, every point counts. Sportrik's in-depth analysis indicates that pit strategy and tire management will be decisive on high-altitude tracks like Mexico.
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