WHAT IS UP WITH LANDO NORRIS this season?

Coming off a sensational 2024 where he grabbed 8 pole positions and finally broke the “no wins” curse, expectations were sky-high for Lando Norris in 2025. He was meant to be McLaren’s title spearhead, finally shedding the “almost man” tag. But a few races into the season, one thing’s become clear: something’s off.

He’s still quick. He’s still got that classic Lando humour. But when it comes to executing a full weekend, something just isn’t clicking.

The Q3 Collapse Syndrome

Norris’s biggest weakness this year has been the one place he dominated in 2024 — qualifying.

He’s flying through Q1. Smooth in Q2. But Q3? That’s where things fall apart. Whether it's overdriving the car, minor errors, misjudged gaps, or unlucky timing, Lando has repeatedly missed the window to put a lap together when it truly matters. And this isn't a pace issue — the raw speed is absolutely still there.

Lando Norris crashed in Q3 in the Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying

💥 The Ironic Exception?

Monaco.

Yes — the most unforgiving, knife-edge circuit on the calendar. The one where confidence, precision, and full commitment are non-negotiable. Lando not only pulled off a stunning pole lap, but backed it up by winning the Grand Prix in dominant style.

The irony is hard to miss: he can conquer the most mentally demanding circuit in the sport, yet elsewhere, Saturdays are slipping through his fingers like a cursed pit strategy from Ferrari.

Sundays Aren’t Helping, Either

Even when the car has pace, Lando’s racecraft hasn’t been at its sharpest this year.

Saudi Arabia: His battle with Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari for P6 took him a lap too many and ultimately it cost him time in a race where he finished P4 and just a second off Charles Leclerc in P3

Japan: After Verstappen’s slow stop, Norris tried to go side-by-side with Max at the pit exit. Verstappen had the line, and Lando ran out of space, ending up on the grass in a moment that looked aggressive, but bordered on optimistic.

Canada : The most frustrating moment yet — crashing into the back of Oscar Piastri, his own teammate. On a day when he started 4 places behind his teammate, he could have gained points on Oscar, instead crashed due to a massive misjudgment and lost a further 12 points in the championship battle.

They’re not reckless moves — but they’re uncharacteristic misjudgments from a driver once praised for his cool under pressure.

A Mental Battle as Much as a Mechanical One

It’s starting to feel like Lando is driving under expectation, not inspiration. After finally ticking the “F1 winner” box last season, the next step — becoming a regular race winner or genuine title contender — has proven far more mentally taxing.

For years, he was the fun-loving underdog with sharp wit and raw talent, shielded by the “young driver” narrative. But in 2025, that honeymoon phase is over. He’s no longer chasing the front — he’s expected to be at the front. That subtle shift changes everything. Every missed Q3 lap. Every overtaken opportunity. Every radio sigh. It’s not just about losing a few grid spots — it’s fuel for critics, pressure from within, and fire in the eyes of rivals.

There’s a visible internal tug-of-war: the confident Lando who knows what he’s capable of, and the frustrated Lando trying to force results that once came naturally. It’s as if he’s wrestling the car, the clock, and his own mindset all at once — and in F1, that’s a triple handicap you can’t afford.

The smile’s still there, but the weight behind it has changed. And as we’ve seen time and again in this sport, when confidence dips, everything else follows — even for the very best.

What Does McLaren Do Now?

From a team management standpoint, McLaren finds itself in a delicate balancing act. On one side, they have Lando Norris — the face of their modern revival, a proven race winner, brand ambassador, and fan favourite. On the other, Oscar Piastri, the cool, clinical Aussie who’s quietly turning consistency into leverage.

They can’t afford to play favourites when both cars are capable of podiums and wins. That means strategy decisions might start to lean toward whoever’s cleaner over a weekend — and right now, that’s often Piastri.

More than anything, McLaren must rebuild Lando’s confidence without coddling him, a task that’s trickier than just adjusting wing settings. They’ll need to get him back into a mental space where he’s attacking, not overcompensating — where he’s driving with instinct again, not pressure.

The question is: can they help Norris re-find his peak before Piastri becomes the default team leader by momentum?

Can He Turn It Around?

Absolutely. He’s done it before.

All it might take is one flawless weekend — pole, clean start, clean race. Monaco proved he can still be sublime when things click. But unless that version of Lando becomes the default, 2025 risks becoming another season of what ifs instead of finallys.

“You don’t win championships in the first half — but you can lose them there.”