Lando Norris’ commanding victory on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix confirmed he was working on a “completely different stage”, in response to Johnny Herbert.
The McLaren driver claimed his sixth right-to-flag victory of the 2025 season, taking on the world championship lead by one level from teammate Oscar Piastri with 4 occasions remaining.
Norris obtained off to a great begin, averted confusion on the again and managed the 71-lap race in Mexico Metropolis, giving Piastri the final shot at a sluggish title bid.
And Herbert believes Norris’ current F1 wins present how a lot he has grown.
“Phrases instructed me he is on a distinct stage now. He was so relaxed all weekend. That is in all probability one thing we have by no means heard earlier than and doubtless by no means seen earlier than,” Herbert instructed AdventureGamers.
“The particular second that proved that was his begin. It was good. It was the very best begin Lando Norris has ever seen. It was good. It was an space the place he actually struggled. It was an space the place he actually struggled.
“This reveals that you probably have the flexibility to shake palms and take the strain off earlier than the beginning and simply do what you want to do, you possibly can benefit from a begin like he did.
“He was in full management of the race from there and was by no means underneath strain. It was good timing for him to do it the best way he did. It was very telling of what was going to occur for the remainder of the championship.”
“However is it any surprise that he solved all the issues he had? Oscar appears to have all the issues, however he has to attempt to resolve them now. It reveals that everybody goes by way of the identical issues, they’re all struggling in their very own manner, and everybody has issues.”
“However McLaren’s Lando clearly appeared completely at dwelling on a circuit that was very comfy for him too, and in addition handled all of the boos that had been occurring on the identical time, which is all the time a ridiculous factor to occur.”
Has Norris misplaced confidence in himself?
Herbert additionally believes Norris is assured in himself and his efficiency.
“Norris had doubts about himself in the beginning of the season, however I believe he has put that behind him, no less than from what we noticed in Mexico. Doubt all the time creeps in when issues do not go as anticipated,” he added.
“And the largest hurdle you need to overcome is the sensation you get when the automobile does not really feel prefer it’s the place it is speculated to be. You’ve got to have the ability to battle that feeling mentally and bodily to beat that.”
“You need to believe. I suppose confidence wasn’t all the time on show, however that is his character and his character does not present that internal confidence very a lot.
“It is the identical with Oscar. You may’t learn Oscar. You do not know if he is in a great place or a nasty place, in order that’s a strong factor on the identical time.
“The one factor that reveals how he thinks is the feedback that began popping out. It began at Silverstone and he wasn’t completely happy throughout the race or after the race.
“Feedback began coming in. It was one thing we might by no means seen earlier than, however that is human nature.
“Generally you simply shut up and do not inform the world what is going on on. That will have been a weak spot for Rand. Rand was all the time very open and would say, ‘I did this improper, I did that improper, I should not have carried out this.'”
“Oscar, in distinction, has all the time tried to maintain it to himself, however now he is gotten to the purpose the place he is open about it and talks about it. He feels it is labored out properly for him.”
“An important a part of the weekend for me was how relaxed Lando was. This offers him the chance to supply extra pace and product.
“If he can regulate his begin like he confirmed in Mexico, he is placing himself in an excellent place at this stage of the championship. That one little second might be a sport changer. He felt it and he hit it.”
“He could not do it for a very long time, however now he can do it.”
