Lando Norris admits nerves are costing him wins, with mistakes in qualifying putting Sundays, and his championship hopes—under real threat.
Norris showed strong race pace in Jeddah, but another mistake in qualifying may have cost him a shot at victory, and the lead in the championship.
Starting 10th on hard tyres at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver pulled off an impressive recovery drive. But a crash in Q3 on Saturday set him back, and it’s not the first time this season that a small error has had big consequences.
The mistake meant Norris missed out on fighting for the win and now trails teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings. He’s known for being his own harshest critic, but after the race, he managed to find some positives.
“I made it really tough for myself with that mistake in qualifying, but overall, I’m happy with the result,” Norris said. “Fourth place was probably the best I could do from where I started.”
He was quick to acknowledge that McLaren isn’t dominating just yet. “Oscar had a tough race too. Max probably would’ve won without the penalty, so we still have things to improve.”
Norris knows that his Saturday struggles are putting him on the back foot. “When I make mistakes like I did this weekend—or in other races—I’m making Sundays harder than they need to be. That said, I’m proud of the comeback. It was the best I could’ve hoped for.”
“From the start, it was full push. You can’t manage tyres here—it’s flat out all the way. It wasn’t physically tough, but it was hard to close the gap and overtake as much as I wanted.”
Norris finds himself in a strange spot. He finally has a car capable of winning, but his own missteps are holding him back. And with Piastri now 10 points ahead, the pressure’s only building.
“I’m not surprised,” he admitted. “The mistakes I’ve made on Saturdays are the reason why.”
“My Sundays have been strong. I’m confident in my race pace—honestly, I think I’ve been the best on Sundays. But I’m making life harder than it should be. I’ve got to sort out my Saturdays. If I can do that, I know I can get back to the top.”
He’s clear on what needs to change: less tension, especially during qualifying.
“I’ve felt really confident in the races. Qualifying is where I’m struggling—especially over one lap. It’s not the car, it’s me pushing too hard.”
“In Saudi, the car wasn’t the issue. I was just overdriving, trying too hard to nail the perfect lap. I need to relax, take a step back. The speed is there. I just need to calm down a bit.”
With a break coming up, Norris is ready to reset.
“This time off will help. I’ll come back stronger.”
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Norris Cracks Under Quali Pressure as Title Hopes Slip Norris Cracks Under Quali Pressure as Title Hopes Slip
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