Chequered flagging

MCLAREN GOING PAIR-SHAPED

- BY DANIEL MOXON

JENSON BUTTON believes the title fight between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is "starting to take its toll" on McLaren.

They have been dominant all season but struggled in Baku two weeks ago, with Piastri crashing out and Norris well down the order in seventh.

Ex-McLaren racer Button said yesterday: "The McLarens were still quick but their two drivers fighting for the world championship, it's starting to take its toll.

"Then you have Max (Verstappen), who has won four, going out and enjoying himself."

Piastri has been unflappable for most of the year, but wobbled for the first time in Baku, crashing in qualifying before jumping the start of the race and then burying his car in the wall on the first lap.