Verstappen and Norris reveal why nothing has changed since 2025 title fight
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris say their approach to racing has changed little compared with last year, despite the huge difference of not challenging for the championship this season.
Norris beat Verstappen by two points to win his maiden Formula 1 championship last season. Despite each winning three races this season, both drivers have not been involved in this year's title fight, which was won in dominant fashion by Kimi Antonelli.
After the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Norris beat Verstappen to the victory, both drivers were asked for how their approach to races had changed in relation to the pressure involved of competing for the title last season.
Norris said: "Honestly, nothing changes at all. There is always pressure. Every time I put my helmet on, I feel that pressure because I need to do well.
“The team expects that of me, and naturally I want to perform well myself. Perhaps there are more big moments and more pressure from external situations. But whenever I go out on track, I always feel the pressure to perform and do the best job I can.
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"I don't think that changes anything when I'm in the car honestly. So I feel the same this year as I felt last year."
Verstappen had 'nothing to lose'
Verstappen said his approach felt no different from previous years. Last season, he trailed Norris and Oscar Piastri by a considerable margin but ultimately finished just two points short of the title. In Brazil, he saw a clear parallel with that campaign.
“Yes, for me it actually felt pretty similar because I more or less had nothing to lose. Last year, I had nothing to lose. I was just going for it trying to close that gap. And now not fighting for the title, I was like, well, I'm starting in the back again. So it's getting a bit nothing to lose, just trying to have a good race weekend and score as many points as possible."
Verstappen sits second in the championship after closing a massive gap to the rivals ahead of him, sitting 17 points ahead of George Russell with three races to go. Norris is not completely out of the fight for P2 either, as he sits 33 points behind his championship rival from last year with three races to go.
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