"Lando Norris feels he's mastering McLaren after initial struggles"

Norris Confident After Mexico Victory as Championship Heats Up

Lando Norris has expressed growing confidence in his McLaren as he secured a commanding win at the Mexico City Grand Prix, taking the lead in the world championship standings with four races left.

The British driver dominated from pole position at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. With teammate Oscar Piastri finishing fifth and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third, Norris now leads Piastri by a single point and Verstappen by 36. Piastri had held the championship lead since Saudi Arabia, but Norris has surged ahead as the season approaches its conclusion.

Norris has faced challenges throughout the season, particularly in qualifying, struggling with front-end grip compared to Piastri, who enjoyed a strong run of form. However, Norris has worked hard to adjust and has shown improving results, just as the Australian’s performances have slightly declined.

“Of course, when the car was winning and Oscar was winning, I couldn’t blame the car,” said Norris. “I wasn’t adapting well and didn’t have the right approach, but now I’m figuring it out. It’s that straightforward, and it definitely boosts confidence.”

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella highlighted Norris’s strength in low-grip conditions, as seen in Mexico, where he delivered a flawless performance. Stella noted the team emerged from the weekend in a strong position, particularly after Verstappen and Red Bull had been regaining momentum.

“This win will reinforce Lando’s confidence heading into the last four races,” Stella said. “Both drivers have reasons to be optimistic, and we understand the car better now, which helps with consistency.”

Stella also acknowledged the remaining circuits—Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—should suit both drivers.

“We’ve shown we have a race-winning car, and we can dominate under the right circumstances,” he said. “While Vegas has been tough for us before, the other tracks shouldn’t favor one driver over the other. Our focus is ensuring we maximize the car’s potential at every race.”