Lando Norris took a significant step forward this season in his Formula 1 career as he competed at the front consistently for the first time.
The British driver won his first race at the Miami Grand Prix and dominated in Singapore but made a series of critical errors that showed he’s not quite at the level yet to win a world championship.
Norris looked tentative at times in wheel-to-wheel combat as he was passed around the outside on the first lap in Italy by his teammate Oscar Piastri. He also struggled against four-time world champion Max Verstappen when the pair got together on the circuit.
The Qatar Grand Prix last time out was a difficult weekend for Norris, in particular. Although he had the pace to win the race, he finished in 10th place for McLaren.
He received a penalty for speeding under yellow flags which cost him and the team valuable points in both championships. Norris can’t make errors like this if he wants to win the championship.
Despite the tricky outing, former Formula 1 driver Pedro de la Rosa explained that Norris did one thing that shows he can compete at the front.
Lando Norris letting Oscar Piastri pass him in the Sprint race showed Pedro de la Rosa he is a ‘winner’
McLaren had good speed in the early stages of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend as Norris took pole position in Sprint Qualifying.
The British driver continued his good form into the Sprint and led his teammate Piastri in a one-two that delivered critical points for the team in the Constructors’ Championship.
Norris was on the verge of victory, but Piastri was let through out of the final turn on the last lap to hand Piastri the victory and his second Sprint win in a row in Qatar.
The McLaren driver did this to repay the favour Piastri did for him in Brazil when they swapped positions in the Sprint, as Norris still had a slim chance of winning the championship.
READ MORE: Lando Norris told why Oscar Piastri is better at overtaking Max Verstappen than he is during races
De la Rosa explained on the F1 Nation podcast that Norris’ selfless act shows he doesn’t care about second place, as he cost himself points in his battle with Charles Leclerc in the standings.
He said: “I was surprised, for example, in Qatar, when Lando let Oscar through in the Sprint because, okay, it’s only two points. But he’s fighting for second in the world championship with Charles.
“But he still thought it is more important to give back the favour to Oscar, back from Brazil, rather than get those two extra points that I might need.
“Also, it gives me a very good indication that he’s a winner because he doesn’t really care about finishing second. Many drivers say second. Well, many drivers, not all drivers I’ve met, say second is the first loser. But actually, do they really mean it? Well, I think Lando really means it. His actions are really reinforcing that fact.”
Lando Norris needs to stop making small mistakes
Norris was blisteringly fast at times this season as he dominated in Singapore and at the Dutch Grand Prix but he narrowly avoided the wall multiple times at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The British driver also missed an opportunity at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, slumping to sixth place from pole position after a series of errors. The difficult day was made even more painful as Norris’ title rival Verstappen won from 17th on the grid.
McLaren may be competitive at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and a good result at the end of the season may lift Norris’ confidence heading into 2025.
Errors such as speeding under yellow flags can’t continue as it needlessly costs the 25-year-old points over a season, making life more difficult.
