Formula 1 star struggles with himself
“Driving style just doesn’t fit anymore”
04/19/2025 – 4:31 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Despite his lead in the overall ranking, Lando Norris goes to the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia with mixed feelings. He fights with inner doubts.
Lando Norris could actually look forward to the race weekend: sitting in the fastest car of the Formula 1 season, the 25-year-old travels to Jeddah as a World Cup leader. Three points are currently separating him from McLaren teammate Oscar Piatri. But Norris is anything but solved in front of the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia (Sunday, from 7 p.m. in the T-Online live ticker). Rather, he speaks openly about uncertainties and mental burdens that are currently accompanying him.
In a conversation on the edge of the racing weekend, the Brit described how difficult it was to grasp his own skills. “My driving style just doesn’t fit anymore. I hate not knowing how I will perform,” he said.
This was already noticeable at the last race in Bahrain: after mistakes in qualifying and early start, it was still enough for third place – while Piatri drove to the victory without errors. In retrospect, Norris emphasized: “After that I needed a few days of break. But as much as you want to switch off, you keep thinking about a lot.”
In the current season, Norris has nevertheless achieved success: victory in the opening race, podium places at every Grand Prix – he is on track in terms of sport. But the mental side continues to worry. “I tried to remember all the good things. But I think too much of negative things,” he said, adding: “I often forget that I won the first race and that I stood on every podium.”