Lando Norris Admits 2025 McLaren Forces Major Driving Style Shift

Lando Norris Faces New Challenges as McLaren’s 2025 Car Demands a Different Driving Style

As the 2025 Formula 1 season heads into its fifth round in Saudi Arabia, McLaren’s Lando Norris has opened up about the growing pains he's experiencing with the current generation of his team’s car—despite holding a narrow lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Norris revealed that the McLaren MCL38 is pushing him out of his comfort zone. “I’m being forced to drive in a different way and a different manner that I’m not used to—and that is not normal for me at all,” he said on Thursday. “It’s weird to say that in my seventh season of F1.”

Top of the Table, But Not at Ease

Norris enters the weekend leading the standings by just three points over teammate Oscar Piastri, with Max Verstappen a further five points behind. But despite the statistical success, the 24-year-old Briton isn’t satisfied with his performances so far this season.

Following a third-place finish in Bahrain, Norris admitted that he was “nowhere near” his full potential. While he hasn’t publicly detailed what specific areas need improvement, he emphasized that the feeling behind the wheel is fundamentally different compared to 2024.

“There are things I’m going to try to do differently and learn about,” Norris added. “Nothing’s guaranteed, but hopefully a better understanding gives me more confidence overall.”

McLaren’s Internal Battle Intensifies

The contrast between McLaren’s two drivers has become a key storyline in the early stages of the season. After a spin at his home race in Australia, Piastri quickly rebounded with back-to-back wins in China and Bahrain, erasing a 23-point deficit to his teammate.

Norris, meanwhile, spent time post-Bahrain trying to mentally reset—although he admitted that challenges with the car were hard to ignore during the break. He described his adaptation process as “uncomfortable” and acknowledged that his natural driving instincts don’t mesh with the car’s current characteristics.

“I’m not going to be able to drive like I did last year and like I know I’m good at,” Norris said. “But I’m more accepting of the struggles and the challenges I have at the minute.”
 

Confidence Gap in Qualifying

Despite taking a pole position in the season opener in Australia, Norris hasn't looked as sharp in qualifying as he did in 2024, when he claimed a season-high eight poles.

“My level of confidence was very high at the end of last season… Now I cannot [execute], just because my feelings are not there,” he said. “I hate not being able to know how I’m going to perform in a qualifying lap.”

The qualifying session in Jeddah is one of the most demanding on the calendar, known for high speeds, narrow margins, and little room for error. The track’s similarity to Suzuka in terms of cornering speeds could play a critical role in how teams perform this weekend.

Piastri on a Roll, Verstappen Lurking

Oscar Piastri, riding high from a dominant win in Bahrain, has continued to close in on Norris and remains confident heading into Jeddah. “China was a track that was very front-limited, like Jeddah, and we were still very quick,” he said. “So I’m not overly concerned.”

Piastri also warned that Red Bull—and Max Verstappen—could reemerge as a threat this weekend. “With such a high level of grip, that’s something which saved us in the last couple of years, and this year it may potentially save some others,” he said.

“I expect us to be quick but with some opposition.”

A Test of Adaptability

Norris’ honesty sheds light on a broader truth in Formula 1: leading the championship does not always equate to full control. With McLaren's car requiring a significant adjustment to his established driving habits, Norris finds himself battling both the field and the machine beneath him.

As the grid prepares for Friday’s practice sessions in Jeddah, all eyes will be on whether Norris can regain the comfort and confidence that defined his performances last season—or if Piastri and Verstappen will continue to gain ground.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for full Saudi Arabian Grand Prix coverage, driver updates, and live championship analysis.