Lando Norris remains focused in the 2025 F1 title fight despite Oscar Piastri’s dominant start and rising momentum at McLaren.
With McLaren F1 hitting strong form at the end of 2024 and Lando Norris clearly outperforming Oscar Piastri, the Formula 1 world quite logically expected the Briton to pull away once the MCL39 proved to be, once again this year, the car to beat.
A single number quantifies this: McLaren leads the Constructors’ Championship with 362 points—more than double Ferrari’s total in second place.
While Norris was McLaren’s top driver at the end of 2024 and was even tasked with challenging Verstappen for the title, the 2025 season has brought a surprising twist in Woking: Oscar Piastri has turned the tide. Six wins to Norris’s two; four pole positions to two; seven to four in all qualifying sessions; and a ten-point lead in the championship.
So, will Norris falter just as his greatest title opportunity yet finally arrives?
“It’s maybe not a perfect start, nor ideal, but I’m still satisfied with my performances so far. It’s the kind of start you need to fight for a championship,” Norris said ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
“And you mention surprise regarding Oscar. I wouldn’t put it like that. If I were on the outside, I’d agree 100 percent. But I’m not surprised, because I know the driver. I know what he’s capable of. I know his talent. And I suppose I have a better sense of it than anyone else.”
“I’m the one watching his footwork and hand movements, and how he drives the car. And I’m probably able to give a more accurate assessment than anyone from the outside.”
His hands and feet indeed seem more at ease with the MCL39. That was Norris’s observation in the early races, when he complained about a front end that felt too weak and didn’t give much feedback.
“I can only speak about my own driving style and what I rely on, and yes, for me, it’s mostly about how the car feels beneath me that allows me to sense my speed.”
“When you’re competing with the best in the world, everything needs to align with your reference points and optimal sensations in order to be as precise as possible. Without that small detail, it’s hard to be the best.”
“I’ve had to explore other ways to push myself—whether that’s through physical sensations, footwork, or working with the team to recover more feeling from the car. That’s part of the job.”
