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A Bumpy Start: Norris vs. the McLaren
Since the very beginning of the season, Norris had been wrestling with his McLaren. The car showed plenty of potential, but that potential was stubbornly hard to unlock. After leaving the Singapore Grand Prix feeling frustrated with his driving sensations, Norris decided it was time to level with the team and seek a new direction. And clearly, the honest conversation paid off.
“It’s hard to know exactly, it’s just that I felt better in the car today,” Norris told Sky Sports F1 after his Mexico victory. “It all comes down to my feelings behind the wheel. Last year, I felt great and could perform better. This year, I’ve found it tough to adapt—the car is incredibly quick, but still tricky to drive.”
According to Norris, success is all about having things line up perfectly with the car. And up until now—even as recently as Singapore—he and the McLaren just weren’t on the same page. He recounted:
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“We had a meeting [after Singapore] that lasted an hour and a half, and I told them, ‘This is exactly the car I don’t want. That’s why we can’t win—if the car doesn’t give me what I need, we won’t win anymore.’ This weekend, I got more of what I needed, and I was able to show my level. It really is that simple.”
When Blaming the Car Isn’t an Option
Meanwhile, Piastri went on a winning spree in the first part of the season, leaving Norris in a tricky position—how do you critique the car when your teammate is hoisting trophies? Norris admitted that the experience shook his confidence:
“There were moments early in the year when I felt it, because I never want to criticize my car. The car was winning, Oscar was winning, and the last thing I wanted was to use the excuse of not having a good enough car.”
But even if the car was bringing in wins for Piastri, Norris just couldn’t quite get comfortable.
“I wasn’t settling in or finding a solution to make it work. Now, I have found a better way. It really is that simple.”
Why Mexico Changed Everything
The conditions at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez played a role no one could ignore. The low-grip surface was a nightmare for Piastri, forcing him to drive in a way that felt unnatural. Norris, on the other hand, seemed to thrive—something team boss Andrea Stella highlighted to international media.
“He was able to rely on the car’s strengths and performance,” explained Stella. “In fact, these special low-grip conditions are perfect for him. It’s a natural way for him to clock in fast laps—almost the opposite of Oscar’s characteristics.”
The result? Norris was able to find the groove at Mexico in a way he hadn’t managed for months, translating both technical improvement and his personal perseverance into a return to the top of the standings.
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