Lando Norris remains resolute in his belief that he can win the Formula 1 world championship without relying on misfortune to befall his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. After retiring from last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix due to an engine failure, Norris finds himself 34 points behind Piastri, with nine races and 249 points still up for grabs.
While Norris’s non-finish in Zandvoort has put him at a disadvantage in the title fight, especially with McLaren dominating the field, he insists that he does not expect or want Piastri’s success to be affected by bad luck. Speaking in Monza, Norris said, “I can still win the championship without anything happening to Piastri, and that’s the way I want to do it.”
Norris acknowledged that having other competitors between them might ease the pressure but also noted that McLaren’s dominance can sometimes make his challenge harder. “It’s frustrating, but may the best driver win. If that’s Piastri at the end of the season, I’ll respect that,” he added.
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During the Dutch Grand Prix, Norris was on track to finish second behind Piastri before his engine failure dashed those hopes. Although Piastri has claimed seven wins this season—two more than Norris—the British driver is the only McLaren driver to suffer a mechanical issue this year.
Reflecting on the setback, Norris said, “These things happen. It’s not the fault of Andrea Stella or Zak Brown. We went 60 races without a technical failure, which is something to be proud of. This was just unlucky.” He also mentioned that both the team and himself have exchanged apologies, recognizing the shared responsibility and effort.
Looking ahead, Norris remains focused and optimistic. “If I lose the championship by a few points, I’ll take it on the chin, hold my head high, and aim to come back stronger next year. Dwelling on it won’t help.”