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just like mexico a fortnight agoIt was impossible to ignore the banter in the old-school grandstands. Just three months ago, a ton of haters would have had a detrimental effect lando norris And its performance. We all love to be loved, right? Norris certainly did.
However, now a spine of steel has emerged: Norris 2.0 gives no fucks.
“I ignore everyone who talks trash about you!” mclaren The driver said with a smile, immediately after Grand Prix victory in Brazil And at that very moment some reproaches were heard on the broadcast. “Just focus on yourself.”
Starting the weekend with just a one-point lead, it was a decisive few days at the World Championships in the ever unpredictable Interlagos. While title rivals’ relegation oscar piastri And max verstappen Holding on, Norris kept his head above the parapet to record a perfect weekend: two pole positions, two race wins and a maximum of 33 points.
What has changed? Norris, who turns 26 on Thursday, has made no secret of his tendency to self-doubt in the past. In fact, this has bordered on self-deprecation and, in the heat of a closely contested title fight, it is a quality he has worked hard to correct.
“I care a lot about people’s perception and how I’m portrayed in the media and things like that,” he admitted in Sunday’s post-race press conference. “I probably cared too much. Even at the beginning of the year, I think I cared too much and maybe it wasn’t affecting me in a good way.
“I’ve learned to deal with those things better. Not by not caring, because I still always want to make a good impression, I never want to be rude or do those things.
“But I will always try and stand my ground and say what I believe in. That’s one of the things I’ve learned the most: just being true to yourself, having confidence in yourself, believing in yourself and speaking your mind.”
His mental toughness has not been the only factor behind this Notable recent changesIn which he has executed a 58-point swing in just six races since his brutal retirement at Zandvoort in August. It was then noted that Norris had to change a lifelong habit – And he has done just that.
Labeled by some as a “party boy”, Norris revealed in April that he would not attend the 2025 King’s Day celebrations in Amsterdam, a year after the scandal. cut off his nose before her parents’ house f1 Win in Miami. He further said that he has given up alcohol.
“I had a good week [last year] in amsterdam with martin [Garrix]But I’m fighting for the world championship now,” the Bristolian explained.
Top-3 – F1 World Championship
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 390 points
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 366 points
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 341 points
“I can’t afford to do something like this anymore. I have to go back home and train. This race [Saudi Arabia] Was physically tough and I would love to have a drink now. But I didn’t drink a single drink the whole year and I’m proud of it.”
A month later, he also revealed that he had distanced myself from social mediaAlthough signs suggest he has returned to Instagram in recent months, to the delight of his 10.8 million followers. Yet, after apparent moments of weakness in his inaugural title clash with Max Verstappen last year, his off-track priorities have clearly changed.
As usual in F1, mechanical changes have also paid dividends. Norris has benefited from the new front suspension implemented in Canada in June, which has given the Briton more experience with the car’s front axle, which is important for confidence when driving at the limit.
In contrast, Piastri has omitted the suspension changes in his McLaren car and opted for the car’s previous front geometry, as he grapples with his sensitivities at the wheel of the MCL39.
Norris also revealed at the last race in Mexico that he had deleted his delta time on his dashboard during qualifying, in order to focus solely on his laps and not be distracted by previous efforts.
Most drivers refer to a delta time on their dashboard during qualifying sessions, in which they can compare in real time how their lap compares to previous attempts. By removing this feature on his wheel dash, Norris has become an outsider on the grid. But recent results speak for themselves: three pole positions on spin.
“I think about something when I don’t have it [delta time] “It doesn’t matter whether I push – it doesn’t matter what the start of the lap was like, it doesn’t matter what the corner was like,” he said.
“I think it’s because you have no reference of the overall lap time, you’re always trying to maximize every corner. Otherwise, sometimes I stare at it too much and that’s never the best thing.”
Although all of these factors may seem somewhat subtle, they have given Norris a significant edge in the marginal advantage game. So much so that he now has one hand on the Drivers’ Championship trophy, with a 24-point and 49-point lead over Piastri and Verstappen respectively.
Unlike Verstappen last year, Norris cannot capture the championship at the next race in Las Vegas. The earliest he can claim the title The final round is a sprint race in Qatar. Yet Piastri is now collapsing at knots and Verstappen at an unfathomable rate taking yourself out of the fightDespite his tremendous drive from the pit-lane to third place on Sunday, Norris has all the momentum in his back pocket.
The defeat is his only. Needless to say, a maiden title would be the biggest middle finger to all opponents.