Victory in Miami a year ago, his maiden win in Formula One, launched Norris into Max Verstappen’s rear-view mirrors as a credible title threat. His return to Florida in a fortnight now feels just as significant if he is to reclaim the upper hand in the intra-McLaren power battle and the title race.
“It’s my qualifying, my Saturdays, which are not good enough at the minute,” Norris said. “That’s because I am struggling a little bit with the car. [Saturday] was not the car, it was just me trying to take too many risks. So I just have to peg it back. I’ve got the pace. It’s all in there. It’s just sometimes I ask for a bit too much and get a bit too ‘ego’ probably and try to put the perfect lap together. I just need to chill out a little bit.”
In Jeddah, Piastri showed his racing pedigree off the line, forcing Max Verstappen into a first corner error, and a penalty, from pole that ultimately cost him victory, and executing a stunning pass around the outside of Lewis Hamilton into turn 21 that made a novice out of the seven-time world champion. Hamilton is nowhere near peak Lewis, but even slow Lewis was not expecting to be passed on that part of the track and definitely not in that manner.
Lewis Hamilton didn't make it easy for Lando Norris! #F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/qD3toyVMpR
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2025“I make life tough for myself, especially in a race like that,” he said. “It would have been much better, a lot more chilled to just drive at the front. So I’ve got to help myself out a little bit and have better Saturdays.”
Meanwhile, Norris appears agitated, moaning away in the media pen about the idea that the McLaren holds a significant advantage over its rivals, particularly Red Bull and Ferrari in Saudi. It doesn’t, he claims. “They’re just as quick in quali as in most sessions. They’re as quick as us in the race. Just because we’re quick in practice people just keep coming out with all this crap.
People do, not least Norris. The damage was done in qualifying, for which he described himself as an idiot. I should be fighting for pole and, especially on a Q1 lap, not taking any silly risks like I seem to have done. I’ve let myself and the team down.”
He at least has a weekend off to reflect on the disappointments of Japan, Bahrain and Saudi and on what he must do to reset the clock. Last year his victory in Miami did not register as a title marker at first, but did prove an early indicator that Red Bull’s dominance would soon be over. A repeat this year might not be sufficient to erase the 10-point deficit to Piastri, but it would restore confidence, and that is absolutely necessary if he is to put both Piastri and a still-rapid Verstappen behind him soonest in 2025.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Norris or Piastri? Right now, there is only one driver McLaren should be backing )
Also on site :