"Norris admits British GP win and Piastri title fight left him drained"

Lando Norris Reflects on British Grand Prix Victory and Championship Battle

Lando Norris admitted that securing victory at the British Grand Prix and his intense competition with Oscar Piastri for the championship had been draining, but he remains optimistic about carrying momentum into the next race in Belgium.

“Two wins, but they definitely haven’t been simple,” he said after adding a Silverstone triumph to his earlier victory in Austria. “The battles have been tough, very demanding weekends because you’re chasing tiny margins, pushing for perfection in every session, and facing some strong competitors. It takes a lot out of you, especially after a race like Sunday.”

Norris’s win at Silverstone marked his first consecutive victories in Formula 1. Both races featured tight battles with his McLaren teammate Piastri, with little separating the two drivers.

During the race, Piastri led before receiving a 10-second penalty for abrupt braking during a safety car restart, forcing Verstappen to take evasive action. Norris seized the lead when Piastri served his penalty and held on to win in challenging conditions that tested many drivers. He acknowledged needing top form to outrace his teammate twice in a row.

Norris has now secured four victories this year compared to Piastri’s five, narrowing the gap in the standings to just eight points with 12 races remaining. The 25-year-old has occasionally struggled with the McLaren’s handling, particularly with front-end grip, which has impacted his performance at times, especially in qualifying.

However, adjustments to the front suspension in Austria improved his comfort with the car. While Norris is riding a wave of success, he knows consistent performances are vital to sustain his title hopes.

“Two strong weekends are great, but I need to maintain that level,” he said. “Winning twice doesn’t guarantee anything. I have to keep pushing.”

Piastri was unhappy with his penalty, arguing his braking was not excessively erratic. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suggested Verstappen may have exaggerated the incident to influence the stewards' decision.

“We’ll have to see if other drivers amplified the situation,” Stella said. “Some competitors can make minor mistakes appear more serious than they really are.”