Lando Norris says he feels a more complete driver who is better prepared for the title fight he is in against Oscar Piastri this year than he was in 2024.
Norris took his first victory in Formula 1 last year and emerged as a true threat to Max Verstappen while trying to close down a significant points margin in the second half of the season. This time around, Norris says little has changed when it comes to his potential, but that he is more capable of showing it more regularly.
“Nothing makes my life feel different, it’s just your preparedness for this moment, for this battle,” Norris told RACER. “From a racing side, I’ve learned a lot of things. Just generally more experience.
“What comes with experience is just dealing with more situations, going through more things, understanding your team better, them understanding you better. So naturally, you’re just more prepared for any situation.
“You’re more prepared, but the second part is actually being a better driver on top of that. Can you actually drive the car quicker? Can you save the tires in a better way? Which are normally the harder things, I would say. But also, especially for Oscar, in his third year of Formula 1, a lot of that just comes with experience, too.
“I think I’m going to say it in every interview I do, probably from now on – maybe not ever – but I feel now more like the most complete driver I’ve ever been. I feel like I’m ready to tackle more challenges, and all of these things.
“It doesn’t necessarily make it easier, though. You’re still racing the best drivers in the world who can drive the car just as quick as you. So it doesn’t make things easier, but you’re just more prepared. And I think at times, that just allows you to show more of your potential.”
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown believes Norris has been displaying that potential more often in high-pressure situations without getting the credit he deserves, or the recognition of his own improvements alongside Piastri.
“I think Lando’s in a great place,” Brown said. “There was also a time Lando couldn’t win from pole, according to the world, and he’s won four of the last five races [he’s started] from pole. So I think this kind of narrative around Lando is not accurate today.
“He’s open, kind of wears his emotions on his sleeve, so to speak. I think everyone’s different, but I think he’s in a great place. I’ve never seen him in a better place.
“[In Budapest after qualifying] I think the Lando of a year ago maybe would have been more critical on himself. He’s doing an awesome job. So, no, I think that is much like the he can’t win from pole stat. Now that he’s won four or five races from pole, no one seems to be talking about that.
“I think you guys should write about that. Because there’s another stat out there from [Charles Leclerc], who I’m a big fan of, who’s not won that many races from pole, and I don’t think that’s anything on him. I think that’s [a reflection of] how awesome he is over a lap and maybe can carry a car over a lap that doesn’t have the ultimate race pace.
“So that’s not intended to be disparaging on him at all. I think he’s a huge talent. But my point is kind of a good narrative, and then when that narrative goes away, no one kind of, it’s almost like the retraction’s always on the back page. And I think Lando’s in a great place.”