For the second consecutive year, Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, is one of the drivers fighting for the world title. Last season, the British driver had not yet fully gained the experience necessary to handle a championship battle, and this—combined with the psychological pressure of having Max Verstappen as a direct rival—led to him narrowly missing out on the title. This year, expectations are even higher, given the performance gap between the MCL39 and other cars. However, the 25-year-old currently seems to be struggling to assert his strength, unlike teammate Oscar Piastri, who took the lead in the drivers’ standings two races ago. Coming to Lando Norris’s aid is four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who periodically acts as a mentor.
A great help
Speaking with Sky Sports F1 before the Miami GP, Lando Norris was asked whether he believes his sincerity and directness help him in the title fight.
“It’s just the way I do things,” he said. “Maybe it’s not the perfect method, but it’s the way I was raised. It’s how I’ve always felt I learn best from my mistakes. The real problem is that the team is doing a great job, but I’m not. Maybe I shouldn’t share so much like I do, but I’m just being honest. You ask me a question, and I answer sincerely.”
“Seb often writes me messages about these things. From him, I’ve learned that being a driver isn’t just about driving the car. There are many other factors, and over the past months, and over the last year, I’ve learned more about what happens off the track and how to improve that. But I’m always open to new opportunities to keep improving.”
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