After a demanding Bahrain weekend, Lando Norris reshapes his outlook heading into Saudi Arabia.
- Despite leading the World Drivers’ Championship, Norris battles personal frustrations after Bahrain’s tough race.
- A challenging qualifying session and penalty pushed Norris to third place, sparking self-reflection.
- Taking three days to reset, Norris gains a new perspective before the Saudi race.
- Norris focuses on positives and addressing performance issues, while acknowledging the challenging car dynamics.
Lando Norris, despite his lead in the World Drivers’ Championship, is no stranger to frustration when his performances fall short of his expectations. The Bahrain Grand Prix was a hurdle, with Norris facing a difficult qualifying session followed by a penalty, leaving him to finish in third place. “I felt like I’d never driven an F1 car before,” Norris admitted, reflecting the weekend’s pressure.
Norris took three days off to “reset” his mindset before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, focusing on positives and acknowledging the season’s strong start as a success. “Yes, I know it could have been better,” Norris explained, “but still leading the championship after not being happy is a start to the year I would have dreamed of before the season started.” His break allowed him to recalibrate and focus on the successes rather than dwell on the negatives.
Examining the “issues” troubling his performance, Norris is determined to improve, despite the nature of McLaren’s MCL39 compounding his struggles. “It’s not like I’m gonna come into this weekend full of confidence,” he said, acknowledging the hurdles ahead. He recognized that adapting his driving style and approach could yield improvements, although constant changes were not immediately possible.
Norris is candid about the distinct shift from last season, where high confidence stemmed from a deep understanding of his car and driving style. The current season presents new challenges, with his driving style not naturally aligning with the car’s dynamics. However, the fact that he’s still leading offers hope, suggesting potential for even greater strength as he works through these challenges.
Acknowledging his tendency to focus more on negatives, Norris plans to balance this with positive reflections. “I just want to do well, and I want to get the most out of every session,” he said. This balanced perspective marks a notable shift in his approach, emphasizing the potential for growth in adapting to new conditions. Whether or not this shift will affect his performance remains to be seen.
Norris’s newfound perspective in Saudi Arabia could be a turning point in his championship journey.
