Lando Norris has acknowledged his more open mentality in comparison to that of Max Verstappen as his 2025 Formula 1 title fight continues.
Since Norris emerged as a title contender for the first time in his career in 2024, he has faced an insurmountable wave of criticism over his approach to the fight, focused on his overly self-critical and light-hearted attitude at times.
The Brit is often compared to the likes of four-time World Champion, Verstappen, but the Dutchman is known for his brutal attitude when it comes to battles on track and his nonchalance when it comes to criticism.
Norris spoke about his differences to Max and the way he wishes he could block out the criticism. However, he appreciated the difference between them.
“Everyone is different, and it’s not like my way is definitely right,” he told Viaplay.
“I admire the characteristics and mentalities of other drivers, such as Max, where it really is that kind of ‘f*** you’ attitude.
“Sometimes I’m like, ‘I wish I was more like that, I really do’. But it’s just the difference of people, and Max probably contrasts with me the most in some ways.”
One of the biggest criticisms that comes from Norris’ openness is that he doesn’t have the ‘killer instinct’ needed to win an F1 championship, unlike drivers such as Verstappen.
“And some days I know what I have, it can be weaker and it can be taken advantage of – but only if I really give in to you or media or anyone questioning a lot and saying it is a weakness because Lewis [Hamilton] wasn’t like that, Max, a four-time World Champion, is not like that; these guys weren’t like that, [Ayrton] Senna, [Alain] Prost, whoever you want to say,” he added.
Norris wants to win his way despite Verstappen wish
For the Briton, his goal is to win a championship and be at the top of the grid. Yet, if he can, he wants to be himself in the process.
“But I guess what I’ll be most proud of is if I can do it, and just do it my way. I can set – not a new standard, but a new way of, ‘you don’t need to be a dickhead, you don’t need to have that kind of attitude’,” he said. “I want to do it my way.”
2025 has left him keenly in the title fight, though just a step behind his team-mate, Oscar Piastri.
While the fight is not over, Norris is 31 points behind him, suffering a DNF in Zandvoort, which made a significant dent in his campaign.
When analysing the title battle, Norris still believes he has an edge over Piastri, his extra years in the sport leading to his confidence.
“As much as I always hated using experience as an excuse or reasoning for things, you end up going, ‘yeah, well, I just learned about this because of experience,” Norris admitted.
“And that is my advantage over Oscar.
“But he certainly doesn’t lack in speed, talent, ability, in any sense of the word. So, I know what I’m going up against.
“I’m going up against a guy who is the same speed as me and just as good as me. He’s incredibly calm.
“He’s cool. I feel like I am, but he makes me look like I’m emotional.”
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