'McLaren must be cut-throat'

EWIS Hamilton has told Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris they ‘will need to be as “cutthroat” as Max Verstappen if they want to win the Formula One world title.

- SCOTT HUNT

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton

(Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Seven-time world champion Hamilton controversially lost out to Verstappen in the fierce title scrap in 2021 and the Dutchman has romped to three more championships since.

His bid for a fifth straight crown appeared to be over when he left Zandvoort in August 104 points adrift of leader Piastri.

But Verstappen has won three of the four races since and now sits only 40 points behind the Australian - with Norris himself having closed to within 14 of his teammate in the McLaren garage.

With five rounds remaining and 141 points up for grabs ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, Verstappen has emerged as a genuine title threat.