After losing the championship lead, Lando Norris sacrifices parties and booze, determined to stay sharp in the intense F1 title battle.
Lando Norris is taking a step back from the nightlife. After a tough race weekend in Saudi Arabia that saw him crash in qualifying and lose the championship lead to McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, the 25-year-old is pressing pause on the celebrations—especially with King’s Day in the Netherlands just around the corner.
A year ago, Norris was front and center at the iconic Dutch holiday, partying with close friend and DJ Martin Garrix on a boat through Amsterdam’s canals. That night ended with a slightly bloody nose and a memorable Grand Prix in Miami. But this year, the vibe is different.
“I’d love to go back,” Norris admitted. “Last time was one of the best days of my life—and I won in Miami right after. I miss my friends. But now I’m in a title fight. I can’t afford to do that again.”
Coming off a demanding triple-header in Suzuka, Bahrain, and Jeddah, Norris says he—and the whole McLaren team—need to reset.
“I needed a break. We all do,” he said. “I had the pace to win in Saudi, but I didn’t execute. And when you’re up against guys like Max, Oscar, Charles, George—any small mistake, and it costs you.”
King’s Day 2025 falls on a rare F1 off-weekend, but despite the free time, Norris is skipping the party.
“I want to have a drink, trust me,” he laughed. “But I haven’t had a single drop of alcohol all year. I’m proud of that. I need to train, recover. That race in Saudi was brutal.”
Mental strength has become a major talking point around Norris after his recent missteps. Former F1 driver Timo Glock told Sky Germany that Norris’s inconsistency could cost him big.
“We’ve seen these mistakes before,” Glock said. “That’s how world titles slip away. He has to block out the noise before Miami.”
Meanwhile, praise is growing for Piastri’s calm and steady rise to the top.
“He doesn’t have the emotional highs and lows,” Glock said. “That might be his biggest strength.”
McLaren bosses are also urging Norris to fine-tune his approach.
“He doesn’t need to be faster,” said team CEO Zak Brown. “He’s quick enough. But in Q3, he’s been pushing just a bit too much. He needs to ease into it.”
Team Principal Andrea Stella agrees: “Lando himself knows it—if he tidies up his Saturdays, the rest will follow.”
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No Drinks, No Distractions: Norris Targets Title Glory
No Drinks, No Distractions: Norris Targets Title Glory
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