'Really dark place': Nico Rosberg's warning to Lando Norris amid clumsy Oscar Piastri clash

Former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg has warned Lando Norris' clash with Oscar Piastri in the Canadian Grand Prix is another indication the Aussie is winning the mental fight.

The belief within the paddock is Piastri's ice-cool demeaner in and out of the car, as well as his competitiveness this season has got inside Norris' head.

In the closing laps of Monday morning's race, Norris took himself out of the race when he drove up the back of his McLaren teammate down the pit straight as they squabbled over fourth place.

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Miraculously, Piastri's car was undamaged and he was able to finish the race. It was the first time the McLaren pair had clashed on the track.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the race, 2016 champion Rosberg said mistakes can lead to a driver going to a "dark place".

"I'm making mistakes, I'm not good enough, I'm making mistakes – it gets to you, in your head, and it can get pretty dark then," Rosberg said.

"I've been through this, so it gets really dark – especially when you're making mistakes like today where everybody can see.

"It's difficult for Lando to get back out there."

Rosberg was teammates with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes between 2013-2016, when he shocked the sport by retiring after clinching his world championship.

Following the decision, Rosberg was open with the mental load required to beat Hamilton and admitted he didn't think he had it in him to lift himself again.

Also Speaking to Sky Sports, Norris took full responsibility for the crash, and admitted he was "attempting something probably a bit too silly".

"No one to blame but myself, so I apologise to the whole team, and to Oscar as well ... I'm glad I didn't ruin his race," he said.

Piastri has won five races this season to Norris' two, and his lead in the championship has more than doubled to 22 points.

On Sunday morning, renowned motorsport commentator and analyst Greg Rust said the "psychological edge" Piastri holds over Norris is clear, but stressed there is still a long way to go in the championship.

"This is only round 10 of 24. We need to keep that in perspective ... (he carries himself) well above someone that age," he said on Nine's Weekend Today.

"He's got Mark Webber in his corner, someone who's been through the real highs and lows of Formula 1. It's great for him to be able to draw from that at this stage of his career.

"Every year since he made it to Formula 1, he's kind of I think set himself little targets. He's achieved those every time.

"He's in a great space, great car, good people around him and a good frame of mind, that's for sure."

The F1 season continues in Austria in a fortnight.