Premise: all of us, including Formula 1 drivers, are human beings. Therefore, we all make mistakes. The important thing is to understand what went wrong and learn from the past to avoid ending up in the same situations again. And Lando Norris still doesn’t seem to have succeeded in doing that…
Lando, admit (to yourself) that you need help
For the umpteenth time this season—and more generally over the last twelve months—we’ve witnessed a weekend in which Norris ruined the final result by making mistakes.
In 2025, he’s already made several qualifying errors: in China (during the Sprint part of the weekend), in Jeddah (where he crashed in Q3), at Imola, in Barcelona, and now in Canada too.
Five missteps in ten Grands Prix are already too many for someone who, over the winter, said he had changed and could fight for the World Championship.
If we add to these five the times he’s also made mistakes during races, the situation becomes really serious. In this regard, the fact that he’s closer in the standings to Verstappen (+21 points) than to his own teammate (-22) says a lot.
The incident with Oscar Piastri, for which Lando Norris is—as he immediately admitted—the sole culprit, is clear proof that the Briton continues to struggle with handling pressure. You can also notice it in his engineer’s messages: on Saturday he tells him “remember the braking points,” and on Sunday he asks for “one of his best races.” Lando Norris is fragile, weak, insecure. In the past, McLaren’s number 4 has always told the media that he pays close attention to opinions outside his bubble, whether they come from fans or pundits.
Yet, instead of looking outward, Lando should look in the mirror. He should admit to himself that he needs help.
Nico Rosberg, 2016 world champion, even offered him help—without ever receiving a response. Or at least, that’s what he claims. On the other side of the garage, Oscar Piastri has a reference figure: his manager, and former Formula 1 driver, Mark Webber. Unlike Lando Norris, Oscar is cold, composed, and doesn’t let emotions carry him away—for better or worse. And the results on track are clear.
In short, to win this World Championship, Lando Norris needs to take a step back. He needs to understand that with this mental fragility, he may win a few battles, but not the war. The question is whether he’ll realize it only when it’s too late…
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