Norris says his "way of driving" is "not there" despite leading the championship
20:49, 17 Apr
Updated: 22:54, 17 Apr
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Lando Norris says that his "way of driving is not suited at all" and "not there" at the start of the 2025 season after going through some qualifying struggles.
The Brit sits at the top of the Formula 1 World Championship after four races, aided by a fine victory at the Australian Grand Prix to kick off the campaign.
However, although he holds a three-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri, he has not been at his best so far, with qualifying being a real struggle at the moment for the 25-year-old.
Norris hoping for change but not as confident as he was in 2024
Speaking in the paddock at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to several media sources, Norris spoke about how he is not focusing in on the championshop after just four races.
“I just want to outpace the field, I don't really care who. There have been plenty of times over the last few years when I've had a great position in qualifying or a great race, and I've come in disappointed. That's because most of my enjoyment comes from knowing that I've achieved what I know I can achieve in qualifying or a race, disregarding whether that's first or second or third or whatever.
"At the moment, I pay the price for these mistakes, but it's not because of being behind any certain people or anything that you're insinuating. It’s just that I know I can be so much better and perform at a much higher level than what I'm doing now.
"My level of confidence was very high at the end of last season, not for any other reason, but I just understood the car, I understood how to drive it, and I could go out and execute things perfectly. Now I cannot, just because my feelings are not there, my way of driving is not suited at all, and I just hate not being able to know how I'm going to go out and perform in a qualifying lap," continued the Brit.
Norris hopeful his performance will improve, even while leading the championship
But even with the struggles that Norris is currently going through, the champinship led is his, and that gives him great hope for the rest of 2025, even if he has little now.
"Last year, if you asked me, maybe that's a lie, but last year, if you had asked me, 'Are you confident going into qualifying?', I would have been much more likely to say yes than what I am now, and that's just because of how I feel in the car itself. It's not for any reason, but I know what I can do, and I know what I'm doing, and I know what I can do and achieve is a lot higher than what I'm doing now.
"The fact that I'm still leading the championship, the fact that the start of the year has not been dreadful, probably gives me more hope than anything else, that if I can get things to click and move in the right direction, that I'm hopeful that I can start to become much stronger," Norris concluded.
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