Norris: I've Had to Change My Driving Style Every Year of My Career

Lando Norris has revealed that adapting his driving style has been a yearly ritual throughout his entire F1 career. The admission comes after George Russell complained that his traditional approach isn't working with the current generation of cars.

This season, F1 introduced new technical regulations that completely overhauled the car philosophy, moving away from the ground-effect era that began in 2022. The significant changes to aerodynamics and power units have left several drivers struggling, including Russell, who has often been outpaced by teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell has been forced to abandon his natural style in search of performance.

For Norris, however, this kind of shift is nothing new. "I mean, I've had to change my driving style every single year of my life," he told media including RacingNews365. "For him (Russell), it's worked for 20 years, for me it's not worked. My driving style worked back in 2018 when I did my test here [in Hungary]. That's probably about it. Ever since then I've had to change."

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While it may be an uncomfortable experience, Norris insists there is no excuse for a driver who fails to adapt. "The more experience you have in F1, the better equipped you should be," he said. "If you're not ready to adapt to a different car, then you're not at a good enough level. It's our job, it's what we've got paid millions to do. It's to drive any car you get given, whether it's a good one, a bad one, an easy one or a hard one."

Norris also described the demanding reality he faces every weekend. "Every single race I come into at the minute, I feel like I have to completely forget the last weekend and learn how to drive a new car, because that's how it is for us. Every driver is different. But for me, my whole career in F1 has been about how I can change my driving style every season."

His comments highlight the adaptation challenge that defines the new regulation era. With Lando Norris consistently fighting at the front, his ability to adjust is a valuable asset. Meanwhile, George Russell must quickly find a way to avoid falling further behind his younger teammate.