After the summer break, Formula 1 returns this weekend at Zandvoort, and Lando Norris arrives with high confidence. His first win of the season in Hungary a month ago gave a huge boost to McLaren, and the reigning world champion is not ruling out a repeat at a circuit hosting the final Dutch Grand Prix.
In the FIA press conference, Norris stressed that the win in Hungary gave the team a lot of belief. But he remains realistic. “I’m not one to get ahead of myself. We won’t automatically win here, but our targets are very high, and we want to believe we can do it,” he said. This cautious attitude shows Norris’s maturity as he enters the second half of the season with a stronger mindset.
The success in Hungary was fueled by the upgrade package McLaren brought to Budapest. Norris believes that development could be the foundation for more consistent performance in upcoming races. “With the new parts we brought and the pace we found, we need to understand if this performance will improve on all tracks, all types of tarmac and corners. We need to stay calm, but we have made a significant step forward,” he explained. This statement indicates that the Woking team now has a more solid technical base to fight at the front.
One hot topic Norris touched on was the future of Max Verstappen at Red Bull. After the reigning champion signed a new contract, rumors of a move to McLaren faded. Norris admitted he wouldn’t mind sharing a garage with a driver of Verstappen’s caliber, but he insisted Oscar Piastri’s position is safe. “I would welcome anyone as a teammate, but I know Oscar will be my teammate for a long time and I don’t expect that to change,” he said.
When asked about the points gap to championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, which is under 100 points, Norris admitted he doesn’t think about it much. “I only think about it when you guys ask. This season I haven’t focused on that, especially after the last races. There’s no point thinking about it for too long,” he said. This shows Norris’s focus on the process rather than short-term results.
Finally, Norris also expressed his sadness that the Dutch GP will be the last at Zandvoort before the circuit leaves the calendar in 2027. “I’m quite disappointed because this is an event I like. I like the fans, even though most come for one particular driver. The atmosphere is fun, full of passion, and that’s what you always want to see in racing,” he concluded.
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