Sergio Perez has opened up about Lando Norris’s performance during the 2025 Formula 1 championship fight, saying he saw his own Red Bull difficulties reflected in the young Briton’s early season. During the first half, Oscar Piastri emerged as the leading McLaren driver, taking advantage of Norris’s errors when under pressure, such as the costly incident at the Canadian Grand Prix where Norris collided with his teammate and retired. Piastri demonstrated consistency and managed to secure the top spot in the drivers’ standings from the race in Saudi Arabia up until the event in Mexico. Throughout this period, Norris found it challenging to keep pace amid mounting expectations within McLaren.
Turnaround in the Championship’s Second Half
At the midpoint of the season, Oscar Piastri held a commanding 34-point advantage over Lando Norris following the Dutch Grand Prix, where Norris was forced out of contention due to a technical failure. However, things shifted dramatically for Norris as he began to find momentum in the American phase of the championship while Piastri’s performance notably waned. Norris began to close the gap, overtaking rivals and regaining confidence with every point scored. By the season’s conclusion in Abu Dhabi, Norris secured the title, while Piastri ended up third behind Max Verstappen. Perez, reflecting on his own tumultuous tenure as Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate from 2022 to 2024, saw parallels between Norris’s initial difficulties and his own struggle to master a car that did not suit his driving style.
“Well, I think he (Norris) had a good season, right? When he went through a bit of what I experienced when he didn’t have a car that suited his style, it was really hard for him, but he never gave up. He turned it around when McLaren built the car to his style.”
– Sergio Perez, F1 Driver
Piastri’s Season: From Front Runner to Second Fiddle
The intensity of McLaren’s internal battle stood out, with Oscar Piastri initially positioned as the favorite for the championship. As the campaign progressed, Piastri’s momentum faded and he became the supporting driver by the time the racing circus arrived in Abu Dhabi. This late-season reversal not only defined Norris’s triumph but also shaped Piastri’s journey, as the Australian moved from the top of the standings to support his teammate’s successful title quest. The rivalry within McLaren, paired with Max Verstappen’s presence in the mix, made the championship season especially gripping for fans and participants alike.
Max Verstappen’s Special Tribute to Perez During His Sabbatical
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, who claimed his fourth F1 title in 2024, honored Sergio Perez with a personal gesture after Perez’s exit from Red Bull. Verstappen presented Perez with a Red Bull helmet he wore during the 2024 season, symbolizing the camaraderie they built over their time as teammates at the Milton Keynes-based team despite Perez’s noticeable struggles in the preceding two years.
“Thanks for being a great team-mate and friend.”
– Max Verstappen, F1 Champion
Perez shared the poignant moment on social media, choosing a photograph with Verstappen and the autographed helmet to reflect on his racing break in 2025, a year in which he stepped away from active competition.
Looking Ahead: New Beginnings for Perez and Norris
As the season ended, the landscape of Formula 1 continued to evolve. Sergio Perez, set to join Cadillac F1 in 2026 alongside Valtteri Bottas, will embrace a lead role with the new team, free from the challenge of being cast as a secondary driver, as was often the case next to Verstappen at Red Bull. For Lando Norris, his championship success not only marked a career milestone but also signaled McLaren’s revival as a force in the sport. Oscar Piastri, having experienced both triumph and setback in one season, now faces the challenge of regrouping and aiming for new heights.
The 2025 Formula 1 championship season’s intense battles, turning points, and shifting fortunes have left a strong impression on fans and involved key figures like Lando Norris, Sergio Perez, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely competitive future in the sport.
