Less is more? Norris regrets 'trying to be so good' with dominant McLaren

10:35, 01 Aug

byKada Sarkozi

Ahead of the final Grand Prix before the summer break, Lando Norris is behind his teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings. Looking at their head-to-head battle, the Briton explains what can decide the fate of the title.

Entering the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris is 16 points behind Oscar Piastri.

Looking ahead to what could be the deciding factor for in the 2025 world championship, he said: "It's probably down to kind of least mistakes, I would say, more than anything. Not necessarily who's outright the quickest or who can simply race better or who makes the best overtakes," he began to GPblog among others at the Hungaroring.

He continued: "Especially because of the position we're in as a team, we have a car that is you can say one of the best cars maybe in Formula One. We’re first or second more often than more often than not."

"And you kind of can just hold on in Turn 1 and then go from there. There's not been many races where positions have swapped through a race. So therefore, it's more who can then make the least mistakes for the points."

Lando Norris on the podium in Belgium, where he finished behind Oscar Piastri

Norris sees with the MCL39, less can be more

Given the fact that Norris said mistakes will decide the title, could not being on the edge all the time to be more consistent help him this campaign? "It can be a mix. I mean there's even sometimes this year when 99%, even 95% would have been fine."

"Some of my mistakes from earlier on in the season are trying to… I try and perform at 101%. Sometimes that's amazing. Sometimes that's, I think, as good as you can get. And, yes, that's what I feel is the optimum of what I, and I think a driver can achieve at times. And I do believe that."

He concluded: "But also times I should drive at 95% or even 90% and that's still enough to be on pole or P2 sometimes. I mean, I do regret trying to be so good at the beginning part of the season. And I think now already I sometimes settle for a 95% lap and that's still good enough."

While Norris is currently behind Piastri, he is 65 points ahead of the defending world champion, Max Verstappen. However, the Briton wouldn't rule out 'one of the best drivers ever' from the title battle.