Lando Norris has openly expressed regret over his performance in the initial races of F1 2025, acknowledging that his early-season errors forced him into a catch-up position against McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. These missteps have sharpened his focus on driving more carefully within his limits as the season progresses, especially amid their intensifying title fight.
The championship battle between Norris and Piastri has tightened significantly in recent rounds, with Norris narrowing the gap to just nine points after securing victories in Austria, Britain, and Hungary. Meanwhile, Piastri’s strong start to the year, often capitalizing on Norris’s qualifying errors, allowed him to establish an early lead that still hovers around ten points.
Key moments in the season’s opening third saw Norris falter during qualifying sessions, including notable errors in China and Bahrain. His most damaging mistake came in Saudi Arabia where a crash in Q3 dropped him to 10th on the grid, contrasting with Piastri’s pole position. Piastri converted that advantage into a win, boosting his championship lead and putting Norris on the back foot.
As the F1 2026 regulations approach, McLaren’s strong pace has deterred many rival teams from major upgrades this season, leaving Norris and Piastri as the primary contenders for the title. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen trails Piastri by 97 points, making a McLaren driver almost certain to claim the championship, with Norris’s early errors being a key factor in shaping the current points gap.
Norris reflected that his eagerness to push the car and himself to the absolute limits early on contributed to these critical mistakes. Having adapted to the McLaren MCL39’s handling and potential, he now intentionally drives more conservatively, reducing risk without compromising competitiveness.
It can be a mix. There are even some times this year where 99 percent, even 95 percent, will do fine,
Norris said during a media session in Hungary.
These are some of the things I saw in my mistakes earlier in the season, trying to perform at 100 percent more.
—Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
He elaborated that while pushing to 100 percent can sometimes yield the optimal result, there are occasions when operating at 90 or 95 percent is sufficient to secure top qualifying positions or strong race finishes. Reflecting on his early-season approach, he added:
I do regret trying to be so good at the beginning part of the season. I think now, already, I sometimes just settle for a 95 percent lap, and that’s been good enough.
—Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
Intense Intra-Team Rivalry Defines McLaren’s F1 2025 Season
The closely fought championship is marked by challenges on both sides within the McLaren garage. While Norris has made errors, Piastri has also experienced setbacks, such as sliding off track during a rain-affected Australian GP and an ill-timed braking misjudgment behind the Safety Car at Silverstone, which resulted in a penalty costing him victory.
Norris’s progression from last season is notable; after competing closely with Verstappen for the 2024 title but losing due to multiple mistakes, he has visibly improved his consistency in 2025. When asked about his development since McLaren became a front-runner, Norris emphasized the complexity of adapting to the new car’s characteristics.
It’s just that there are always different situations, different moments along the way,
he explained.
I think, as a driver, I still feel better than I was. It doesn’t mean I always do a better job, because the car is quite different.
—Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
He pointed out that the MCL39 handles differently from previous McLarens despite its distinct papaya color, requiring him to adjust his driving style. Norris praised his ability to recover and improve during weekends, even when facing difficulties with the car or specific sessions.
This year, I’ve had my tricky moments with the car and understanding how to drive it, just because, yes, it’s a McLaren.
But this was stuff I got to do what I’ve had to do, when I needed to do a better job to get back to being as quick as I need to be, which I feel like I’ve done.
I’ve improved on something, my ability to improve on worse moments as proof, or the ability to improve on certain struggles that you might achieve during the weekend or over a session or practice, whatever it is.
Other than that, I think this is always going to be for everyone, little things along the way that’s a new experience or you didn’t expect that you wish you could be better on, but I think that’s just life.
—Lando Norris, McLaren Driver
What Lies Ahead in the F1 2025 Title Fight
With only ten races remaining, the battle between Norris and Piastri is poised to deliver intense competition, as both drivers and McLaren aim to maximize the MCL39’s advantage before the transition to 2026’s new regulations. Norris’s recognition of his past errors and his measured driving philosophy could prove pivotal in the closing stages of the season.
The ability to remain consistent and avoid mistakes will be crucial as the pair fight for supremacy within the team and the championship. With Verstappen significantly trailing behind, the rivalry within McLaren holds the key to this year’s Drivers’ Championship outcome, highlighting the importance of mental sharpness and disciplined execution.
Norris’s reflective approach and improved racecraft suggest he has adapted well to the challenges of this season, making the finale an intriguing prospect for fans and competitors alike.
