I always had a soft spot for Lando Norris. Indeed, I did. I found him to be a fun, spontaneous young man, who remained down-to-earth despite his wealthy background.
His father, also a likable guy by the way, retired at the age of 36 after selling his own company for a fortune. Lando enjoyed a sheltered upbringing. In Formula 3, for instance, he could count on the support of a private physiotherapist and a personal chef. But no one – as far as I know – could accuse him of spoiled behavior during that time.
Last year, Lando Norris was still celebrating exuberantly on the Amsterdam canals during King’s Day. He ended up with a hefty cut on his nose after getting hit just as he was about to take a sip of beer (presumably not his first). A week later, in Miami, he won his very first Formula 1 race. Another reason for Lando to celebrate, who postponed his return flight by a day and plunged into the nightlife with, among others, Max Verstappen. In short, there was nothing wrong with Lando. A fun guy who fully enjoyed life and success.
Zielige Gejammer (Pitiful Whining)
After that, the sympathy factor for Norris gradually went downhill. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with his rivalry with Verstappen on the track. It’s good for the sport, moreover. But the envious or sometimes even pitiful whining in the media from time to time causes irritation. At least for me.
Last season, Verstappen dealt a mental blow – call it an uppercut – to Norris, until then a serious challenger in the title fight, in Brazil. In the rain, Verstappen drove from P17 to victory, while Norris fell back from pole to P6. Afterwards, everyone was full of praise for Verstappen’s masterclass in the rain. Everyone, except Norris. “This has nothing to do with talent, all to do with luck,” he said. The frustration was palpable.
Since then, it hasn’t gotten better. This season, he not only has to deal with Verstappen, but also with his own teammate (Oscar Piastri) who threatens to overshadow him. Mentally, the Brit is the weakest of the three, by a considerable margin.
Jabs and Jokes
Off the track, you can notice this in the verbal jabs that fly back and forth. For instance, after his victory in the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen joked that he would have won by an even larger margin in a McLaren. Piastri laughed it off and didn’t take it too seriously. Norris, on the other hand, was not amused and said that Verstappen should complain less. And yes, he was welcome to come and test the McLaren. “I can’t wait to see the disappointment on his face when he gets out,” he added with a touch of malice. After Miami, there was more grumbling: “Either you overtake Max or you crash,” he complained.
On the track, Lando Norris is also struggling. When the pressure is on, he makes mistakes. Last year, he made a series of them, and this season is no different. In Japan, he accidentally mowed the grass, in Bahrain, he parked his car outside the starting box and, despite his superior equipment, missed out on second place behind winner Piastri.
In the championship standings, Norris has had to relinquish the lead to Piastri after convincing victories in China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Miami. It’s clear that Norris is filled with doubt. He confessed in Bahrain that he felt like someone driving a Formula 1 car for the first time and that he doesn’t always believe in himself.
Piastri as the First Driver
The moment when McLaren’s team management will have to choose between the two drivers is getting closer. And despite the fact that Norris is the darling of the British public and the British press, the choice would normally fall on Piastri as the first driver. After all, if Norris doesn’t believe in himself, why should the team management?
Piastri’s character is very similar to Verstappen’s. He’s cool-headed and ruthless. But is Norris championship material? I’m increasingly questioning that. He’s already taken a few solid hits and is already groggy on the ropes. Admittedly, I find that quite amusing…
