Following his pivotal victory in Monaco, which has effectively reset the championship picture, Lando Norris has a crucial opportunity at the Spanish Grand Prix to demonstrate if he has truly regained the form that marked him as a preseason favorite in Formula 1.
Norris`s performance on the familiar streets of Monte Carlo was a decisive answer to the criticism that had grown since his win at the Australian Grand Prix earlier in the season. He once again displayed the caliber of the driver many anticipated would challenge for his first drivers` championship at the start of the campaign.
In the races held between Melbourne and Monaco, the driver initially favored for the title had not secured a single pole position or top podium finish. During this period, his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, had claimed four victories in six races, surging into the championship lead and altering the narrative about which of McLaren`s drivers was best prepared to seize the opportunity to become world champion. Adding to the challenge, Max Verstappen, winner of the other two Grands Prix, remained a formidable competitor for Norris.
Norris had fallen as many as 16 points behind Piastri, but his win in Monaco narrowed that gap significantly to just three points. The championship battle is now intensely competitive, and it is widely expected that the dynamic between the two McLaren drivers will continue to evolve throughout the season.
While Norris has faced setbacks this year, he spoke assertively in the press conference after his overdue victory, a win that McLaren team principal Andrea Stella highlighted required “cold blood” to execute under extreme tension.
“It`s all rubbish,” Norris commented on Sunday evening. “People are free to write whatever they wish. It doesn`t concern me. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and actions. The reality is, almost none of it is accurate, 99% of the time.”
In stark contrast to the calm and measured Piastri, Norris`s visible frustration, both with himself and certain aspects of the McLaren car that he found challenging to master, had been apparent for some time.
Before the Monaco weekend, qualifying performance had been a major hurdle. Historically, Norris`s strong Saturday form contrasted sharply with Piastri`s inconsistency in his initial F1 seasons, a weakness the Australian actively worked on during the offseason. This year, the situation reversed entirely. McLaren`s aggressive development of the highly competitive MCL39 has resulted in a car that can be unpredictable when pushed to the limit. This unpredictability has caught Norris out on multiple occasions, notably with the qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia. While Piastri demonstrated consistent performance in April and most of May, it was Norris whose form fluctuated.
This explains why Norris was particularly pleased with his record-breaking lap around Monaco`s streets, the fastest ever recorded at the circuit. He later shared his pride that his future children would be able to say he won the Monaco Grand Prix, emphasizing that the victory was largely set up by his qualifying effort the day prior.
“I`m extremely proud of the pole position,” Norris stated. “I feel happier with that result than I do with the race win itself. That illustrates how much yesterday meant to me – getting back into my rhythm in qualifying, as it`s something I`ve always been good at throughout my career, until this year. I`ve had to work very hard to regain that form, primarily due to a few specific issues I`ve clearly struggled with and also facing tough competition.”
Monaco marked the second event in a series of three consecutive F1 races. This weekend`s Spanish Grand Prix will provide a significant test to determine if the performance Norris showed in Monte Carlo represents a genuine turning point or if his inconsistent form will return. It remains uncertain if McLaren`s usual competitive advantage will be impacted by the more stringent tests on flexible front wings introduced this weekend. However, even with potential effects, it`s difficult to imagine the team not being strong contenders for pole position and victory.
Norris himself conceded last weekend that he is not entirely convinced he is back to peak form. His relationship with the MCL39 remains complex, and he has been open about his frustrations with it since the beginning of the season.
“I`ve been working diligently over the past few months to recover the momentum and confidence I had in Australia,” he commented. “What I experienced [in Monaco] felt like a small step forward, but it`s not the complete solution. It`s not as if I`ve mastered it now and everything is resolved. There are still aspects I need to refine, and areas where the team needs to provide me with the necessary equipment – and I don`t mean just a faster car, as the car is quick enough – but giving me what I need from the car to perform at my best and maximize results, considering the differences between this year and last year.”
These upcoming races are critical for both Norris and Piastri. Their internal team championship battle has drawn comparisons to the 2007 season, featuring two McLaren drivers in the fastest car, with Verstappen playing a wildcard role similar to Kimi Räikkönen in a rival team. However, unlike that famously contentious season, the current rivalry has so far lacked intense animosity. Instead, each driver has had phases where they appeared to be the dominant force, while the other seemed less comfortable with the car.
Spain feels particularly important for both drivers to make a statement. A win would see Norris reclaim the championship lead from his teammate, building crucial momentum heading into the Canadian Grand Prix and the subsequent string of European races. Conversely, if he finds himself once again outperformed by his promising teammate, the persistent doubts and discussions surrounding his form will quickly resurface.
