Norris Battles Doubt as Errors Cloud Bahrain Podium

Lando Norris leaves Bahrain with a podium, but a shaken mindset—haunted by errors and a car that still feels unfamiliar.

It was a turbulent weekend for Lando Norris in Bahrain. From a disappointing qualifying session to a race full of mistakes and near-misses, the McLaren driver left Sakhir with more questions than answers—especially about himself.

Norris got off to a flying start on Sunday, but not without controversy. He lined up incorrectly on the grid, earning a five-second penalty that put him on the back foot early on. Ironically, it was Max Verstappen who immediately spotted the mistake.

Despite the setback, Norris fought his way back into the top three with a smart undercut strategy. But his comeback was messy—he locked up trying to pass Charles Leclerc and went off-track during an overtake on Lewis Hamilton.

Even with the errors, he finished third—just tenths away from snatching second place from George Russell.

He remains three points ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings. Still, the Australian is closing in fast.

So, how did Norris feel after the race?

“The car’s fast—it won the race,” he said, referencing Piastri’s strong performance. “So yeah, I’m as happy as I can be.”

Asked what the positive takeaway from the weekend was, his response was blunt:
“Probably just that it’s over.”

Shaken, Not Broken

After qualifying a disappointing sixth, Norris was visibly shaken on Saturday—frustrated and mentally drained. Meanwhile, Piastri looked cool, calm, and confident.

“I qualified sixth. That’s just bad,” Norris admitted. “How could I be happy with that?”

“I’m pleased I recovered to third, had a strong start… but second was on the table, and I let it slip. Too many mistakes. The pace was there. The car’s great, Oscar showed that. But I didn’t deliver.”

His race unraveled before it even started with that early grid error.

“I was too far back at first, then moved forward a little… too much. First time it’s happened to me. It shouldn’t—but it did.”

From sixth on the grid to third by the end of lap one, Norris was back in the fight. But Mercedes were solid, and George Russell wasn’t easy to pass.

“I knew George wouldn’t be easy to overtake, and he wasn’t. I had a good first lap—aggressive, which I needed. Then came the penalty. I had to push harder, pitted early, and it cost me with tire life.”

“Every time I did something good, I made two mistakes right after. I kept tripping over myself.”

“Something’s Not Clicking”

Norris has been open about his struggle to find confidence in the 2024 McLaren. The car is fast—but it doesn’t feel like his.

“I wish I knew how to fix it,” he said. “Honestly, I’d tell you if I did.”

“When you’re in sync with the car, you just know. You trust it. That’s how it felt last year—I knew every corner, I could feel what was coming. This year, it’s the opposite.”

“Even in Australia, where I won, I didn’t feel comfortable. The car is saving me right now, but I’m nowhere near my full potential. That’s hard to admit.”

“I stayed up late Saturday night trying to understand it—asking myself: is it me? Is it the car? It’s frustrating. I don’t doubt my ability, but I don’t have confidence right now. And without confidence, you never really know where the limit is. That’s tough at this level.”

Pressure, Passion, and Mental Clarity

Some might see this as a mental struggle. Norris admits he’s hard on himself—but insists it’s just part of who he is.

“For me, it’d be worse to bottle it up. When I speak in interviews, it’s me venting. I’m frustrated because I want to win. I know what I’m capable of—and when I don’t reach it, I take it personally.”

“That’s how I’m wired. I’ve always been this way. I’ve learned not to let my own words hurt me.”

He also acknowledged past issues with self-confidence.

“Yeah, sometimes I lack confidence—it’s happened before. But that’s part of what makes me good, too. I’m self-aware. Maybe too hard on myself at times, like after qualifying. But Sunday, I reset. I slept well, came back fresh, and fought hard.”

“It was a bad day. Then it was a new day. I’ve got a few days now to reset again.”

• Explore Further>Piastri Powers to Bahrain Win as Norris Duel Heats Up
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Norris Battles Doubt as Errors Cloud Bahrain Podium
Norris Battles Doubt as Errors Cloud Bahrain Podium