Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris share a strong friendship away from the Formula 1 paddock. After being teammates at McLaren during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the two drivers have remained very close, continuing to support each other during difficult times in their careers. Carlos Sainz has already done so for Lando Norris in the opening races of the current season, when the British driver came under heavy criticism from the media due to a series of mistakes made on track.
The intense World Championship battle with his teammate Oscar Piastri has highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of Lando Norris, who has gone through a very delicate period from a psychological and emotional perspective. On this matter, Carlos Sainz decided to stand up for his friend and colleague, underlining that he considers Norris one of the most genuine personalities in Formula 1:
“He opens himself up to the media and to people more than any other driver on the grid, and unfortunately people sometimes use that against him,” Carlos Sainz explained to BBC Radio 5 Live. “What you see on television is exactly what he is like as a human being. He is very good at showing his true self. At times I find this a little ironic and even slightly frustrating. He is probably the only one who is one hundred percent honest about his feelings and his way of thinking, but then people turn this sincerity against him,” the Spanish driver added.
Norris or Piastri? Sainz has no doubts
The first half of the season came to an end with Lando Norris in noticeably better form, managing to close the gap to Oscar Piastri to just nine points in the championship standings. The second half of the year promises to be an intense battle, but Carlos Sainz has admitted that in his view, driver number 4 has all the necessary qualities to eventually become a Formula 1 World Champion:
“If I base my decision on pure speed and talent, I am one hundred percent sure that he has everything it takes to win a world championship. But Formula 1 also requires a little bit of luck, strong mental resilience, and the ability to feel comfortable with a car at exactly the right moments,” Carlos Sainz underlined.
“It does not matter if he does not win this year, because he will have other opportunities. He has another ten to fifteen years ahead of him in Formula 1. He has the potential, the talent, and the speed. If he manages to win the title this season, it will be fantastic and I will be very happy for him. Otherwise, he will definitely get another chance in the future,” he concluded.
It remains to be seen whether Carlos Sainz’s analysis will prove to be correct and whether Lando Norris will indeed emerge as the new Formula 1 World Champion of the 2025 season.
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