Norris and McLaren’s Quiet Drive Toward F1 Championship Glory

McLaren’s Lando Norris maintains a calm, focused approach, as both driver and team keep their sights firmly set on the ultimate goal: claiming Formula 1 championship titles.

McLaren believes Lando Norris’s more restrained reaction to his victory at the Singapore Grand Prix stems from his focus on “the bigger mission” of chasing the drivers’ championship title.

Norris took full advantage of McLaren’s dominance at the Marina Bay circuit, converting his pole position into a 20-second lead over Max Verstappen by the chequered flag.

However, Norris was notably reserved in his celebrations, a pattern that has been evident since Zandvoort.

“The simplest thing is to compare how much I celebrated in Miami with how little I celebrated in Zandvoort,” Norris explained. “I didn’t really celebrate at Zandvoort; I just raised my fist and smiled a bit, but that was it.”

“If I were completely out of the championship race, I probably would have celebrated more, but knowing that it means something for a bigger picture, I felt like it was a smaller thing that day and it carried more significance.”

His team principal, Andrea Stella, echoed this sentiment, stating that the entire team has embraced the mindset that winning both championships is now within reach.

Asked whether he had noticed a more serious Norris since the season resumed last month, Stella responded: “In terms of celebration, to be honest, what I observe is what I hear over the radio during the victory lap and then what I see when the drivers step out of the car.”

“I’m busy afterwards, responding to the media, so I can’t always witness the full celebration of my drivers before the podium. But yes, let’s say that in terms of celebrations, we don’t necessarily have the most extroverted drivers.”

“That doesn’t mean they aren’t as happy as others—it’s just a style.”

“It’s a style we like, and it feels as though we’re focused on the next goal, and then the one after that. Because we have a bigger mission in mind.”

“So, has anything changed? I don’t think it has. Obviously, at the first win in Miami, Lando seemed pretty happy, and he threw himself into the arms of his mechanics.”

“But for me, what I see now is a team that looks like it’s on a mission, and that makes sense.”

“And it’s almost as if each of these moments is just a step. Even though, when you win, you have to celebrate, because it doesn’t happen all the time.”