Norris, a champion who has found his smile again
Away from the spotlight, Lando Norris has returned to the playful character who had gained approval until 2024. The title race, which ended with the happy conclusion of 2025, deprived us of the British driver’s lightheartedness. However, he now seems to have lifted a weight: he will not win, but he is certainly driving as a solid driver, often maximizing the potential of a McLaren that was so-so.
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In interviews, the cheeky Norris has returned, the one who knows how to be loved. In the team’s social content at Goodwood, for example, the British driver joked several times with teammate Oscar Piastri. The world champion has great respect for the Australian, who before Silverstone was practically tied on points: for Norris, #81 is “guilty” of pushing him to the limit on the McLaren.
Listen to the crowd 😍#McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/rwQwen8cFl
— McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team (@McLarenF1) July 11, 2026
Norris’s words
“All my teammates have a role in my career, because you always learn something. You don’t always learn positive things, you also learn negative things. And this is part of the process to become a better driver,” said #1. “There are many drivers from whom I have learned a lot. And all of them help me become a better driver, I just have to thank them.”
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“Regarding my teammates in F1, I had Sainz in the first seasons and Ricciardo in the following two years. Now there is Oscar, who has pushed me to the limit in a crazy way. Even too much for my taste,” he added with a smile. “But that’s exactly what is needed in Formula 1. It’s what made me a much better driver and person, especially last year.”
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