MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It’s been a year since Lando Norris’ Formula One career changed, following his first win at the Miami Grand Prix.
Norris is no longer trolled by the nickname Lando No-wins. He’s got five total F1 race wins under his belt, including a victory to start the 2025 season in Australia.
Just don’t ask Norris, 25, about his post-race celebrations in Miami last year.
“I don’t remember,” Norris said May 1 with a sly smile.
“It’s just good memories. It’s stuff I dreamed of as a kid, was winning and standing on top step, and I managed to do it here,” Norris said. “So, just good memories – good, good times. Thinking back to the race, the checkered race, seeing the team, the celebrations – a lot of things that really bring a smile to my face.”
Before the 2025 Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, Norris has found himself behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri on the grid in the races after winning the Australian Grand Prix.
Piastri won the Chinese Grand Prix, the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this season. Norris finished second in China and Japan (behind Max Verstappen), third in Bahrain (also behind George Russell), and he missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in Saudi Arabia.
Still, Norris is in great shape to contend for the 2025 F1 Drivers’ Championship after finishing second behind Verstappen, who won his fourth straight title, in 2024. And he remains in high spirits.
While Piastri leads the drivers’ standings with 99 points, Norris is in second place with 89 points ahead of Verstappen (87), heading into the Miami race — the sixth of 24 races during the 2025 season.
“I’m doing what I can. Clearly, I’ve made some mistakes, and not where the level I need to be. But I believe I can be at the level soon enough. So, no reason to be worried,” Norris said of his finishes this season. “It’s round six of 24. I’m not going to say that forever, but I know I need to get a move on, and I need to get into gear a little bit.
“But I’m doing the best I can every weekend at the minute, and trying to improve. The speed is there, the pace is there. The right space is definitely there. It’s just one thing I need to tidy up, and it’s a difficult thing, but I’m confident that I’ll get it.”
While Norris didn’t reveal the “one thing” in his path, Norris insists he’s happy with McLaren’s team success — more than his own.
With wins in four of the five races, McLaren leads the constructors’ standings with 188 points, ahead of Mercedes (111 points) and Red Bull (89 points).
“It’s great. Obviously, there’s a good atmosphere, because it’s been the best start of a season McLaren has had for many, many, many years,” Norris said.
“[We’re] in a very good spirit. And the same between Oscar and myself — we’re both getting along and enjoy working together. I appreciate him. He appreciates me. And that’s a good thing to have in the team. So, yeah, all positive things.”
So positive, Norris insists he isn’t worried about being edged out by Piastri — just yet. Then again, there are 18 Grand Prix left this season.
“No, no worries at all,” Norris said. “He’s doing a good job, and he deserves it. Nothing more than that.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: F1 Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris taking Piastri’s success in stride
