Lando Norris: The Renaissance in Formula 1?
Following his victory in Monaco, Lando Norris has reignited the fight for the title. Now, at the Spanish Grand Prix, he has the opportunity to prove if the pre-season favorite of Formula 1 is back to stay.
Norris’ performance on the streets of Monte Carlo, his new home, was a resounding response to the criticism received since his victory at the Australian Grand Prix at the beginning of the season. Once again, he showed himself to be the driver who started the campaign as the clear championship contender.
Between Melbourne and Monaco, the preseason favorite didn’t achieve pole position or stand on the top step of the podium. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, won four of the six races, taking the lead in the championship and changing the narrative about which of Zak Brown’s drivers was more prepared to be world champion. Furthermore, Max Verstappen, winner of the other two grand prix, has continued to be an obstacle for Norris.
Norris was up to 16 points behind Piastri, but his Monaco victory reduced the gap to just three. The competition is on, and the dynamic between the two McLaren drivers is likely to fluctuate as the season progresses.
“He needed ice in his veins”
Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
Norris, after his deserved victory, stated: “It’s all rubbish. People can write whatever they want. It’s not up to me. People have their own opinions, they can do all that. The fact is that none of that is true, 99% of the time.”
In contrast to Piastri’s calm and composure, Norris’s irritation, both with himself and with certain aspects of the McLaren car that have cost him to master, has been evident for some time.
Before last weekend, qualifying had been the main challenge. Until this year, Norris’ strong form on Saturdays contrasted with Piastri’s, whose first two seasons in F1 had been inconsistent, something the Australian worked to fix in the off-season. This year, things have taken a 180-degree turn. McLaren’s aggressive development of their class-leading MCL39 has created a car that can be erratic when at the limit of performance, and on numerous occasions that has affected Norris, with the qualifying accident in Saudi Arabia being the worst example. While Piastri looked the picture of consistency in April and most of May, Norris’ form was irregular.
That explains why Norris was so pleased with his record lap on the streets of Monaco, the fastest ever recorded on the circuit. He later said he was proud that his children would be able to say he won the Monaco Grand Prix, and it was a victory that was set in motion by what he was able to do the day before.
“I’m very proud of the pole,” Norris said. “I’m happier with that result than with the victory. That’s how much it meant to me yesterday, to get my qualifying pace back, because it’s something I’ve had all my life. It’s always been good, until this year. And I’ve had to work hard to try and get it back. For no other reason other than a couple of things I’ve clearly struggled with and also having tough competition.”Monaco was the second of three consecutive F1 races. This weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix will be a big test to see if the Norris we saw in Monte Carlo has changed the course, or if the irregular form will return. It remains to be seen if McLaren’s usual advantage will be diminished by the stricter tests around flexible front wings this weekend, but even if so, it’s hard to imagine that the papaya colors won’t be in the fight for pole and victory.
Norris himself admitted last weekend that he is not convinced he is back to 100%. His relationship with the MCL39 is complicated; he has been very vocal about his frustrations with it from day one.
“I’ve been working hard over the last few months to get back that momentum I had in Australia, that confidence,” he said. “What I felt in Monaco was a small step forward, but it’s not everything. It’s not like I’ve nailed it now and everything’s back. There are still things I need to work on, there are still things that, as a team, they give me the equipment, and I don’t just mean making a faster car, because the car is fast enough, but giving me the things I need from the car to excel and maximize the results, and the differences from last year to this year.”These are crucial races for Norris and Piastri. Their internal battle for the title has drawn obvious comparisons to 2007, with two McLaren drivers in the fastest car and Verstappen playing the role of Kimi Räikkönen as the wildcard in a rival team, but so far it has lacked the aggression for which that season is so famous. Instead, both have had moments where they seem like “the guy”, while the other has looked uncomfortable with the car.
Spain seems important for both from the point of view of the declaration. If he wins, Norris regains the title lead from his teammate, just in time for Canada and the avalanche of European races that follow. If he is overtaken again by his exciting teammate, that persistent narrative will be quickly brought up again.
