Lando Norris believes his efficiency on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix was his greatest all race weekend after taking the championship lead with a commanding victory from pole place.
McLaren had not gained since Oscar Piastri’s victory at Zandvoort, however Norris produced a formidable pole lap on Saturday after which led each lap of the race to win by greater than 30 seconds over Charles Leclerc. Though it was the most important level differential of his profession thus far, Norris stated he was most happy with how he carried out all through the weekend.
“I believe this was the sport the place I carried out my greatest,” Norris stated. “I do not know if I am forward or not, however from FP2 to the top of the race, that is after I assume I carried out my greatest. In a method, I believe this was simply my greatest efficiency of the entire weekend, all of the qualifying laps, all of the follow, the entire race.”
“The automotive is simply quick. It has been that method all season, however clearly it is nonetheless exhausting to drive at occasions. Simply discovering that candy spot, the highway will get nearer, and I believe it makes life just a little bit simpler. I do not know (why). It is exhausting to say that my automotive is best than different automobiles, nevertheless it simply has just a little bit extra grip. That is at all times the best reply.”
Norris, who retired from second place at Zandvoort on the finish of the summer time break, was 34 factors behind Piastri, however he outscored his teammate in every of the subsequent 5 races and went into the ultimate 4 races with just one level distinction within the lead.
“It’s nonetheless very vivid in my thoughts,” he stated. “You place (Zandvoort) behind you, proper? You neglect about it as a lot as you’ll be able to and deal with all of the races forward. You neglect every part in regards to the earlier weekend. In fact you attempt to be taught from each state of affairs, however each weekend is new and you’ll strive new issues and have a recent begin to be higher than earlier than. That is what I really feel I did very nicely this weekend.”
“The previous couple of video games have been first rate. That is positively my greatest efficiency, however there’s nonetheless an extended option to go. So I simply should hold doing what I am doing and hold making an attempt to be constant in opposition to the very quick gamers round me.”
“I believe that is good, nevertheless it doesn’t suggest I’ve to do something completely different as a result of I am in entrance or behind or something. I simply hold doing what I am doing.”
Regardless of taking the championship lead, Norris additionally warned that Max Verstappen had outpaced each McLaren drivers because the summer time break, closing the hole between third place and the result in inside 36 factors in Mexico.
“It is one weekend at a time. I am completely satisfied,” he stated. “I simply targeted on myself, saved my head down, ignored all this and stayed myself and that is working nicely for me for the time being, so I am completely satisfied.
“So far as championships go, who is aware of? Issues are nonetheless fairly tight between us. Max has nonetheless acquired me the final six, seven weeks. So…I saved my head down, stayed targeted, saved doing my factor, and that is all you are able to do. Each weekend is new, each weekend is completely different, and it goes a good distance.”
