Lando Norris`s victory in Monaco has significantly impacted the championship battle. Now, heading into the Spanish Grand Prix, he has the opportunity to prove that he is once again the frontrunner many expected him to be at the start of the Formula 1 season.
His drive through the streets of Monaco, where he resides, was a strong response to the criticism he`s faced since his win at the Australian Grand Prix earlier in the season. In Monaco, he recaptured the form that made him appear the clear contender for the drivers` championship at the season`s outset.
Between the Australian and Monaco races, Norris, initially favored for the title, failed to secure either pole position or a race win. Meanwhile, his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, won four of the six intervening races, taking a commanding lead in the championship and shifting the focus to which McLaren driver was better positioned to challenge for the title. Adding to the challenge, Max Verstappen won the remaining two races, continuing to be a significant obstacle for Norris.
At one point, Norris was 16 points behind Piastri, but his Monaco victory reduced the deficit to just three points. The championship fight is now wide open, and many predict the competitive dynamic between the two McLaren teammates will fluctuate throughout the season.
While Norris has faced difficulties this year, he responded assertively in the press conference after his much-anticipated win. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted the victory demanded `cold blood` to achieve under immense pressure.
“It`s all rubbish,” Norris stated Sunday evening. “People are free to write whatever they choose. I can`t control that. Everyone has their opinions, they can express them. The reality is, hardly any of it is accurate.”
In contrast to the calm demeanor of Piastri, Norris`s frustration – both with himself and with specific characteristics of the McLaren car he`s found challenging – has been evident for a while.
Prior to Monaco, qualifying performance was a key issue. In previous years, Norris was known for his strong Saturday results, contrasting with Piastri`s less consistent qualifying during his first two F1 seasons – an area the Australian focused on improving in the offseason. This year, the situation reversed. McLaren`s rapid development of the MCL39, a leading car, has resulted in a machine that can be unpredictable when pushed to the absolute limit. This has often unsettled Norris, notably leading to his qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia. While Piastri demonstrated consistent performance in April and May, Norris`s results were less stable.
This context highlights why Norris was so delighted with his record-breaking qualifying lap in Monaco, the fastest ever recorded on the circuit. He later expressed pride that his future children could say he won the Monaco Grand Prix, emphasizing that the win was largely made possible by his pole position the day before.
“I`m extremely proud of the pole,” Norris commented. “I actually feel more satisfaction from the qualifying result than from the win itself. That demonstrates the significance of reclaiming my rhythm in qualifying, an area that has always been strong for me throughout my career, until this season. I`ve had to put in considerable effort to regain that form, primarily due to a few specific issues I`ve faced and the strong competition.”
Monaco was the middle event of three consecutive F1 races. The upcoming Spanish Grand Prix will be a crucial test to see if Norris`s performance in Monte Carlo marks a lasting improvement or if his inconsistent form will reappear. While there`s uncertainty about whether stricter checks on flexible front wings this weekend might impact McLaren`s typical advantage, it`s still highly likely the team will be competing for pole position and the win.
Norris himself admitted after Monaco that he wasn`t fully convinced he was back to peak performance. He has a challenging relationship with the MCL39 car and has consistently expressed frustration with certain aspects of it since its debut.
“I`ve dedicated significant effort over the past few months to regain the momentum and confidence I had in Australia,” he commented. “What I experienced in Monaco felt like a modest improvement, but it`s not the complete solution. It doesn`t mean I`ve mastered it now and everything is perfect again. There are still areas I need to focus on, and there are aspects the team needs to address – not just making the car faster, as its pace is sufficient, but providing me with the handling characteristics required to perform at my best and achieve maximum results, addressing the differences compared to last year.”
The upcoming races are crucial for both Norris and Piastri. Their internal team championship rivalry has drawn comparisons to the 2007 season – featuring two McLaren drivers in the leading car, with Verstappen acting as a rival wildcard similar to Kimi Räikkönen. However, this current battle has so far lacked the intense animosity of that earlier season. Instead, each driver has taken turns appearing to be the team`s primary challenger, while the other has struggled to fully adapt to the car.
The Spanish Grand Prix holds significant importance for both drivers in terms of making a statement. Should Norris win, he would reclaim the championship lead from Piastri, positioning himself strongly for the races in Canada and the subsequent European events. Conversely, if he returns to being outperformed by his promising teammate, the persistent questions about his form will inevitably resurface.
Dominic Ashworth