McLaren’s Lando Norris has praised his team’s improved mentality, preparation, and consistency after reclaiming the Formula 1 World Championship lead from teammate Oscar Piastri with a dominant victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old British driver now leads Piastri by a single point in the standings, marking a remarkable turnaround after trailing his McLaren teammate by 34 points just over two months ago following the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
“Mentality has improved, approach has improved, preparation has improved,” Norris said after his latest win.
“But also consistency — it’s not like I’ve won the last six or seven races, but I’ve been out there consistently, scoring points. That’s given me the biggest boost over the last few weeks.”
Norris’ Rise Back to the Top
Since September, Norris has finished ahead of Piastri in five consecutive races, closing the 35-point gap that opened after his retirement in Zandvoort due to a fuel-line failure. That setback had made Piastri the title favourite, but Norris’ calm persistence and McLaren’s technical upgrades have shifted the championship momentum dramatically.
Although Norris trails Piastri in total race wins this season — six to five — his string of podiums and top-five finishes has underscored the maturity and composure that define his strongest Formula 1 campaign yet.
“I wouldn’t say it’s about taking more risks,” Norris explained. “Maybe in qualifying you think, ‘Let’s go for it,’ but in the race, it’s about control. I’d put 99% of my recent results down to the work the team has done, and only 1% down to anything else. It’s all about preparation and execution.”
Focused on Performance, Not Pressure
Despite leading the championship for the first time since early in the season, Norris insists he’s not getting distracted by title talk.
“I don’t really think about being champion yet,” he said. “There’s still over 120 points available, so nothing’s done. It’s nice to be leading, but the goal is still to win in São Paulo and finish strong in Abu Dhabi.”
McLaren’s rise in the constructors’ standings mirrors Norris’ personal form, as both he and Piastri have consistently kept Red Bull and Ferrari under pressure in the second half of the 2025 season.
Piastri: “Now I’m Better Prepared”
While Norris celebrates consistency, Oscar Piastri admits recent races have been “a little bit tricky,” particularly in Austin and Mexico, where the Australian struggled for grip and overall pace.
“We’ve got pretty clear answers now on why the last couple of weekends have been tough,” said Piastri. “Some of what’s worked all year just didn’t work as well recently. But I feel much better prepared for whatever we face in São Paulo and Las Vegas.”
Piastri has stood on the podium only once in the past five races, but remains optimistic, emphasizing that McLaren’s internal battle is pushing both drivers to new levels of performance.
Verstappen Still a Threat in the Title Race
Despite the Norris-Piastri duel, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remains a formidable contender, just 36 points behind the lead after a strong run that includes three victories and two additional podiums in the past five races.
“For me, there’s no pressure,” Verstappen said. “To even still be in this fight after being over 100 points behind earlier in the season is already remarkable. We’re the underdogs, but we’re giving it everything.”
The four-time world champion acknowledged that the remaining four races offer a slim but real opportunity:
“I need big results every weekend and maybe a bit of luck, but we’re going all in. Worst case, we finish P3 — best case, we win the championship.”
The Final Four Races: A Season for the Ages
The 2025 Formula 1 season is now entering its final stretch — a rapid-fire run of four races in five weeks, starting with the São Paulo Grand Prix, followed by Las Vegas, Qatar, and the Abu Dhabi finale.
With just one point separating Norris and Piastri and Verstappen closing fast, the title fight promises to be one of the tightest and most thrilling finishes in recent Formula 1 history.
McLaren’s resurgence — built on teamwork, innovation, and resilience — has transformed the Woking-based team from midfield contenders into championship front-runners. Whether Norris can convert his current form into his first world title remains to be seen, but his focus and mental clarity suggest a driver ready to seize the moment.
“It’s nice to lead,” Norris concluded, “but I’m not done yet. The goal is to finish on top — and we’re going to give everything to make that happen.”
🏎️ Current F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings (Top 10)
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 357 pts
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 356 pts
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 321 pts
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 258 pts
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 210 pts
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 146 pts
- Kimi Antonelli (Williams) – 97 pts
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 73 pts
- Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) – 41 pts
- Isack Hadjar (RB) – 39 pts
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