With three races remaining in the season, British driver Lando Norris is enjoying a strong moment in Formula 1. Leading the championship, he sees the title within reach. The turning point has been not just technical but also mental: Norris explained that at the start of the season he placed too much emphasis on external opinions, whereas now he has greater confidence in himself.
Today, as the leader of the F1 standings with three Grands Prix left to race, Lando Norris openly shared how he handles media and fan commentary. Having spent much of the season trailing his teammate Oscar Piastri, the Englishman has raised his performance in the last six races, collecting 115 points compared to Oscar Piastri’s 57.
After his seventh victory of the season in Brazil, Norris was asked what had triggered this turnaround. “Just ignore everyone who says nonsense about you! Focus only on yourself,” he replied decisively. These words come after he faced boos on the podium in Mexico City and Brazil, despite having earned the win fair and square.
The British driver elaborated, admitting that in the past he gave too much importance to what was said about him. “There are always people out there who try to bring you down a bit. I think that’s pretty normal. But when you’re on a big stage, many speak and try to influence others. Even applause — or the lack of it — you still notice. And it’s not the most pleasant thing.”
“But I think in recent months I’ve managed it well. I care about people’s perspective and how I’m portrayed by the media. Probably I cared too much. Even at the beginning of the year, I think I cared too much, and perhaps that was affecting me negatively.”
“Now I’ve simply learned to handle these things better. Not by ignoring them, because I always want to leave a good impression. I never want to be rude or act in a certain way. But I will always try to voice my opinion and express what I believe in. It’s one of the most important lessons I’ve learned: being true to yourself, having self-confidence, believing in yourself, and saying what you think. So yes, it’s mainly about keeping my head down and focusing on myself.”
When asked whether the São Paulo weekend represented a turning point that could decide the championship, given his 24-point lead in the standings, Lando Norris downplayed the idea. “No. It’s just another weekend where I came here to try to win, get the maximum points possible, and I succeeded. I also succeeded last weekend.”
“So no, I don’t think they are turning points. They are simply positive results, and that’s exactly what I need, what I fight for every weekend and every day. I’m very satisfied, but the road is still long. There’s no point in being too happy right now.”
Leave a Reply