Lando Norris\u2019s approach to dealing with setbacks is in stark contrast to Lewis Hamilton\u2019s, believes James Hinchcliffe, who reckons Mexico was a \u201cpivotal\u201d moment in the F1 2025 title chase.<\/p>\n
Norris became the World Championship leader with a dominant victory in the Mexico City Grand Prix, with the British driver\u2019s approach to dealing with setbacks this year assessed as markedly different to that of his compatriot Lewis Hamilton.<\/p>\n
Lando Norris \u2018has found what works for him\u2019<\/p>\n
Norris has seized the upper hand in this year\u2019s championship fight against McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, taking the lead in the points standings for the first time since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he took a peerless victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez last weekend.<\/p>\n
While Norris has shown signs of mental fragility in tense situations before, particularly against Max Verstappen in the F1 2024 campaign, the British driver has bounced back from setbacks such as his collision with Piastri in Canada, dominant displays from the Australian, and even a devastating mechanical failure while running in second place at Zandvoort.<\/p>\n
With four race weekends to go, Norris\u2019s uptick in form has coincided with a downturn from Piastri over recent races, while Verstappen\u2019s form has been such that the Dutch driver remains a viable, if unlikely, challenger to usurp both McLarens.<\/p>\n
Norris is showing no signs of the same mental frailty that has previously been something of a setback for him in battle, and former IndyCar star turned F1 broadcaster Hinchcliffe believes the British driver has leaned into an approach to disappointing days that is in stark contrast to that of Hamilton, the most recent British F1 World Champion.<\/p>\n
During a discussion on the F1 Nation\u00a0podcast, host Tom Clarkson suggested that Norris has blocked out distractions such as engaging with photographers and cameras, ignoring social media noise, and that the McLaren<\/a> man has become more single-minded as a maiden title becomes tantalisingly close.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s driver dependent,\u201d Hinchcliffe said in response.<\/p>\n \u201cI think some people need that focus. And that\u2019s how they get the best out of themselves. Cut all distractions out.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re almost a different version of yourself at the racetrack; some drivers perform best when they\u2019re light and free and feel comfortable just being there.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always kind of found, not always, but, to me, it seems like Lando has identified himself as the latter. He\u2019s found what works for him. Even when he\u2019s had bad days this year, he still comes in the [media] pen.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can still crack a joke, he can still crack a smile. It\u2019s polar opposite to Lewis. Lewis has a bad day, you\u2019re lucky you get three words out of him.<\/p>\n \u201cLando will still crack a smile, \u2018Yeah, hey, that one sucked, you know?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s been a conscious thing of his, to be light, because I think he performs well when he\u2019s light.\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton vs Charles Leclerc in F1 2025<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2025: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n