Lando Norris says he isn’t worried about the form McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri ahead of the F1 2025 Miami GP as he explains he doesn’t believe momentum exists, and expects to fix his qualifying woes soon.
Since taking pole position at the season opener in Melbourne, the 25-year-old has qualified behind his Australian colleague in every race with the exception of the Japanese GP at Suzuka.
That included a dismal sixth on the grid at the Bahrain International Circuit and a crash at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit last time out at the Saudi Arabian GP, ultimately creating a points swing that has seen him lose the lead of the drivers’ championship.
Struggling to adapt to the trickiness of the McLaren MCL39 compared to his 23-year-old rival, the Brit has bled valuable points away on Saturday despite recovering to third and fourth respectively in Bahrain and the Middle East.
However, despite this, Norris isn’t worried about the title running away from him as he explains why the form of Piastri isn’t a major issue ahead of the F1 2025 Miami GP, held from May 2-4.
“No worries at all,” Norris told members of the media, including Total-Motorsport.com, of his teammate’s success. “He’s doing a good job, and he deserves it, nothing more than that.
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“I don’t believe so much in the momentum stuff; just my opinion, but I’m doing what I can. Clearly, I’ve made some mistakes and I’m not where I need to be, but I believe I can be at the level soon enough. So, [I’ve] no reason to be worried. It’s Round 6 of 24.
“I’m not going to say that forever, and I know I need to get a move on, and I need to get into gear a little bit. I’m doing the best I can every weekend at the minute and trying to improve.
“But the speed is there, the pace is there, the race pace is definitely there. It’s just one thing I need to tidy up, and it’s a difficult thing; but I’m confident that I’ll get it.”
F1 2024 Miami GP victory not extra motivation ahead of 2025 race for Norris
The Miami International Autodrome represents a special place for Norris and McLaren after claiming their first victory together in the 2024 edition by beating Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
For the Brit, it vanquished the ghost of the 2021 Russian GP and for his team, it was the start of their journey to the constructors’ championship; which they eventually sealed at the Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates in December.
However, as Car #4 aims to get back to form, he declares that last year’s race doesn’t give him extra motivation for 2025; but notes he is keen to give McLaren the same celebrations this time around.
“No,” Norris simply said of whether last year gives him extra motivation. “But it’s a good memory, right?
“Stuff I dreamed of as a kid was winning and standing on the top step, and I managed to do it here, which was a cool place to do it.
“So just good memories and good times thinking back to the race; the chequered flag, seeing the team, the celebrations…
“A lot of things that always bring a smile to my face. So, hopefully, the plan is to try and do it again.”
