Lando Norris Urges Progress in F1 Title Battle as… Read More
Lando Norris has acknowledged the need to improve his performances in the ongoing Formula 1 season, as McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri continues to gather momentum in the title race. Despite trailing Piastri by 10 points heading into the Miami Grand Prix, Norris expressed confidence in regaining form, while insisting he is not concerned about his teammate’s rise.
Piastri’s victory in the previous race in Saudi Arabia—his second consecutive win and third in just five races—has placed him at the top of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time, overtaking Norris, who was the early-season leader. This weekend’s Miami Grand Prix holds special significance for Norris, as it was the venue of his maiden Formula 1 victory last year.
Though Norris has had a slower start compared to his teammate, he remains optimistic. “He’s doing a good job and he deserves it. Nothing more than that,” Norris said, referring to Piastri. He downplayed the idea of “momentum” in F1, noting that while he’s made mistakes, he still believes in his potential to compete at the highest level. “I know I need to get a move on and get into gear,” Norris admitted. “But I’m doing the best I can every weekend and trying to improve.”
Norris pointed out that his pace and race performance remain strong, and that it’s just a matter of fine-tuning certain aspects of his driving and understanding of the car. One key challenge has been adapting to the 2025 McLaren car, the MCL39, which has proven more difficult for Norris to handle compared to last season. Team principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that changes made to the car have affected its predictability—an area the team is actively working to address for Norris.
Mistakes in qualifying have particularly hindered the Briton’s results, including a crash in Jeddah that left him starting 10th on the grid. Asked about when updates to the MCL39 might help him feel more comfortable, Norris said he wasn’t sure of the exact timeline but expected gradual improvements. He also emphasized the importance of working on his own performance rather than relying solely on car upgrades.
“There’s a mixture of things that will probably come slowly over time,” he said. “But I also don’t want to just rely on that. There are things I’m trying to fix myself.” Norris concluded by saying he is staying focused, working hard with the team, and remaining patient as they collectively aim to maximize the car’s potential.
