A Turnaround in Mexico
After spending much of the season trailing behind teammate Oscar Piastri—who had been leading since the fifth Grand Prix—Norris found himself back at the top thanks to a stunning performance in Mexico. Meanwhile, the Australian was facing a rough weekend, battling with conditions that didn’t play to his strengths. The last time Norris had tasted victory was in the sizzling summer heat of Budapest. So, what changed?
The Search for Feeling: Norris and the McLaren Conundrum
Throughout this season, Norris has struggled to unlock the full potential of his McLaren. On paper, the car boasts impressive performance, but extracting that speed has felt, in his own words, tricky. It all came to a head after a frustrating race in Singapore, when Norris decided it was time for a frank discussion with the team.
“It’s hard to know precisely, it’s just that I felt better in the car today,” Norris explained to Sky Sports F1 following his win. “Everything connects to how I feel in the car. Last year, I felt very comfortable and could push more. This year, adapting has been tough. It’s incredibly fast, but definitely still a handful to drive.”
He went on:
“When everything works, you can really make the car perform—but I’ve struggled with that in recent weekends, even in Singapore. We had a meeting [after Singapore] for an hour and a half, and I said, ‘This is exactly the car I don’t want—this is why we’re not winning, we won’t win if the car doesn’t give me what I need.’ This weekend, I finally had a bit more of what I needed and could perform at the level I’ve shown before. It’s as simple as that.”
Doubts and Breakthroughs
While Piastri was racking up wins in the first half of the season, Norris found himself wrestling with doubt about his own performance, all while resisting the temptation to blame the car.
“There were times earlier this year when I felt that way because I never want to blame the car. The car was winning, Oscar was winning, and the last thing I wanted was to use the excuse of an inadequate car,” he said. “But I wasn’t getting comfortable or finding a solution to make it work. Now, I’m finding a better way to make it work—and that’s all there is to it.”
Mexico’s Unique Conditions: The Norris Factor
The conditions in Mexico played a defining role in the outcome. The low-grip surface challenged many drivers, particularly Piastri, who had to alter his driving style, which felt unnatural for him. According to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, circumstances like these are where Norris truly shines.
“He was able to rely on the car’s strengths,” Stella told the international media. “In a way, these special conditions with low grip suit him perfectly. It’s a natural way for him to put in the lap times, almost the opposite of Oscar’s characteristics.”
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