Piastri finished fourth at last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, just behind Norris, but the result came after early contact between the pair.
The Australian voiced his frustration over team radio, questioning McLaren’s decision not to issue team orders to reverse their positions.
Herbert believes that moment revealed the first visible signs of tension from Piastri, who has seen his championship advantage reduced to just 22 points after Norris recorded three consecutive finishes ahead of him.
“We’re seeing those little, tiny pressure cracks from Oscar from all his comments,” Herbert told BettingLounge. “The cool Oscar Piastri that everyone was talking about at the beginning of the season is not there.
“The pressure’s building, and when you’re fighting for a championship, it’s about who has the stronger mentality to bounce back.”
Herbert added that Norris’s consistency is now turning the title fight into a psychological battle. “It wasn’t the perfect result for Lando, but he was ahead of Oscar. He’s piling the pressure on and showing his speed once again. They’re both very close,” he said.
With McLaren already securing the constructors’ championship for a second successive year, Herbert urged the team to allow both drivers to race freely in the final rounds. “This is really where they show their inner and mental strength,” he said. “McLaren should let them go for it now.”
The next stop in the 2025 Formula 1 season is the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, 19 October, a race that could prove pivotal in deciding whether Piastri can steady himself or whether Norris will continue to close the gap.
