Why Norris’ F1 title fight recovery has come at the perfect time

Lando Norris claimed a commanding victory in the Austrian Grand Prix to lead a McLaren 1-2 around the Red Bull Ring and the Briton’s third race win of the year has come at a crucial time in this Formula 1 season. 

Some 24 hours earlier, he expressed his relief at having taken pole position for the race at the Red Bull Ring, declaring that it was “nice to see the old me back every now and again.” 

It can be argued that the pole lap was his most significant moment since Australia – a race that Norris won at the start of the season and underlined his credentials as a potential 2025 F1 world champion. 

Following that victory in Melbourne, though, Norris has been steamrollered by his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. 

Norris’ misery was compounded when he haplessly clattered into the Australian in Montreal, a move that left him red-faced, deflated and trailing in the title race. The momentum from those wins in Melbourne, and indeed Monaco, was punctured in a moment of madness. 

But there was something different about his weekend at the Red Bull Ring – a venue he had never previously won at in F1, but one where he had shown plenty of promise in the past. 

Could it be that the circuit is one that he prefers and suits his driving style?  

He’d also missed out on FP1 too, with McLaren having used the opportunity to run Alex Dunne, the Irishman who quickly impressed on his F1 debut. Did having that session off somehow give Norris the freedom that meant when he got into the car for FP2, he was in a much better position, mentally and physically? 

Another suggestion was that he actually managed to hit the reset button in the week off between the Canadian and Austrian races.  

This all meant that Norris carried himself differently in Austria. There was a new-found steadiness, and he would explain in his post-race press conference that he has been working hard on his personal and mental development. 

Much is made of Norris’ mental fragility. The way he apologised to Piastri for his error in Canada is indicative of his insistence on taking the blame when it’s his fault. That is a quality that is praised in everyday life, but in F1 is seen as some kind of weakness. 

Norris, though, does not see it that way. He explained in the past how his glass-half-empty approach is what spurs him on. He’s overly critical as he uses it for motivation for improvement.  

But while his perceived weakness is frequently highlighted, his tenacity and ability to handle pressure are often overlooked. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

For instance, the way Norris held off the threat of Piastri for much of the Austrian GP was reminiscent of how he won the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from two Ferraris to help McLaren seal the constructors’ championship. Under intense pressure, Norris did not put a wheel wrong, and he delivered. 

This win in Austria felt similar and was important for Norris’ momentum and his self-development. 

“It’s fulfilling for me,” he said. “It gives me good confidence. I don’t need to prove any points or prove anything to anyone, honestly. 

“I like to prove things to myself probably more than anything. So certainly, it’s been a good, clean weekend from FP2 onwards. I felt very comfortable. I’m very on top of the car and performed exactly as I want to, and as I need to. 

“It’s not that I’ve not been able to do it before and the pace has always been there at certain points. It’s just there’s been some different reasons for different things, but certainly coming in and doing the job, I’m pretty happy with. But it doesn’t come easily. 

“It doesn’t come just because I’ve turned up this weekend and things are better. I’m working a lot. I’m doing a lot more work than I used to away from the track with the team, on the simulator and with my own team on trying to improve everything that I can, both on and off the track. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

“It’s more a positive thing to see a lot of those things paying off immediately. And a good step in the right direction. Still need more, still want more. So we’ll keep working.” 

The Brit’s seventh career win means he has now closed Piastri’s lead to just 15 points, but it comes at a crucial time of the season – ahead of his home race at Silverstone. 

Norris was third in the British GP in 2024 and was second in 2023. He will now be installed as the favourite to claim his maiden F1 victory at Silverstone – an opportunity he needs to seize. 

If this moment is a proper reset, then it must be used as a springboard for success in the second half of the F1 season, which incredibly still has 13 races to go. 

“I want to hope it’s a similar case next weekend, but it’s still a very different track,” Norris added. “It’s a different layout. So, we’re not going to take anything for granted, but the upgrades were working as they should have done and that’s certainly a good sign. 

“So, I think we give a lot of credit to everyone back in MTC and to the whole team for giving us another very, very good car. Upgrades that just we can put on. We’ve been patient with things, but we put them on the car and they worked as they should. So, we’re satisfied. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images

“The team is satisfied and excited for next weekend. The best race weekend of the year for me and in my opinion, but yeah, to have my own grandstand, to have the British fans for McLaren and for myself is something I’m looking forward to for sure.” 

Norris now has reason to be optimistic. Traditionally, he finishes the campaign with a strong run towards the middle and end of the year. And he left Austria in a much better mindset than he did 12 months ago when he was fuming after making contact with Max Verstappen when fighting for the lead. 

He just has to take that positivity forward and consolidate it in his home GP, for we need this championship fight to continue after it became just a two-horse race between the Brit and Piastri.  

If he well and truly is on top of his personal development and able to conquer the self-doubt, then it could have significant bearing on the outcome of the championship and, indeed, Norris’ entire F1 career.