Lando Norris believes he is “being forced to drive in a different way and a different manner that I’m not used to” having struggled to match the recent performance of McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri.
The Briton currently leads the Drivers’ Championship courtesy of finishing all four Grands Prix this season on the podium, including victory at the season-opener in Australia, and means Norris heads Piastri by three points.
The young Australian has taken two victories this term though, including a dominant performance last time out in Bahrain during a weekend where Norris struggled, having only qualified sixth before finishing third.
The Briton also had to deal with a five-second penalty after overshooting his grid box ahead of the start as well as several failed overtakes that cost him more time.
‘I’m not able to be at the level that I should be’ – Norris open and honest about 2025 performance so far
Ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Norris opened up on his recent struggles with McLaren’s MCL39, which has forced him to adapt his driving style compared with last season.
“I’ve not been satisfied how the last few weekends have been, not because they’ve been bad weekends necessarily but because they’ve not been as good as they should be and as they can be,” said Norris.
“I’m trying to do the best possible and when things aren’t going your way and things are not working as they should be then I’ve been a little bit disappointed. Some of that includes me having to drive in different ways and learn different things and that’s something I know I’m having to come into this weekend and try and do.
“I’m not going to be able to necessarily drive like I did last year and like I know I’m good at. Which is weird to say in my seventh season of F1 but I’m still learning things, the car is definitely different to how it’s been so I’m having to adapt a lot in uncomfortable ways.
«But I come in with probably less pressure, I put less pressure on myself because I probably understand a little bit more some of these reasons.”
Piastri sits only three points behind Norris in the Drivers’ Championship and has won more races this year
Norris’ comments in Bahrain, particularly after Qualifying where he suggested “I feel like I’ve never driven a Formula 1 car before”, have drawn praise from four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel and others for his honesty.
And the McLaren driver has repeated that he believes his honesty is just part of his personality, and that it has no impact on his racing abilities.
“I’m just honest about my feelings, I’m not trying to put myself down or make myself feel good,» said Norris. «I’m just telling you the truth about how I feel. That’s it.
“That’s what makes me perform, it’s what makes me feel confident but it’s also because I just want to win and I’m not happy if I don’t do well and I’m not happy if I’m sixth or make mistakes in Qualifying.”
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