An extremely composed demeanor was displayed by Lando Norris as he addressed the press on Thursday at Monza, a surprising sight if one hadn’t witnessed his similar composure following the tough circumstances of the previous weekend at Zandvoort.
Following the engine oil line malfunction on his McLaren – a problem originating within the team, not from Mercedes – his deficit to Oscar Piastri has drastically increased to 34 points. Norris now faces the challenge of surpassing his McLaren teammate, who has exhibited a slight advantage in the last four race weekends.
Many would have understood an emotional reaction from Norris due to the debilitating DNF, but four days later, the 25-year-old clarified his choice to adopt a philosophical perspective.
“Naturally, it’s disappointing,” he acknowledged. “However, the root cause allows for a relatively straightforward transition to the next event.
“Had it been a result of my own actions, I’d likely still be berating myself or feeling dejected. But given it was beyond my control, it’s easier to accept: ‘That’s how things are.’
“You know, what can I do? So it’s probably surprisingly simple for me to dismiss it and concentrate on the upcoming weekend. That’s what I’m anticipating.”
Moments before, Piastri also revealed little excitement regarding his newfound lead, which, though arguably earned, is still more substantial than expected.
The methodical Piastri has been likened to four-time world champion Alain Prost, but the Australian ‘Professor’ isn’t prepared to start calculating just yet.
“In truth, [it alters] very little. In one of my previous championships, I held a considerably larger lead that was nearly nullified before the final event,” he stated.
“So I have firsthand experience of this not being a secure advantage. It’s premature to be calculating and settling for positions other than first, so our strategy remains unchanged. This will remain the case until the lead is significantly larger or the number of races significantly fewer.”
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fought out a curiously friendly title battle thus far.
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
What alternatives does Norris have?
Following the Zandvoort race, Norris pledged to “give it his all” moving forward. However, barring the unlikely event of deliberately pushing Piastri off course, which is out of character for him, it’s uncertain what additional steps Norris could take. What specific areas could he approach with greater intensity?
“I mean, there’s not a lot I can necessarily do,” Norris responded when questioned by Motorsport.com. “Certainly not from a racing standpoint. I need to consistently improve in qualifying sessions. I need to be sharper and more focused on various aspects during races, including decisions and strategy.”
“I can’t significantly alter my approach because I already feel I’m performing at my maximum potential. It’s not as though this incident is a catalyst for me to suddenly do more.”
“I’ve generally been content with my performances. We’re discussing minimal discrepancies that can result in significant outcomes. So, I’m satisfied, aware that I need to refine certain areas, and am actively pursuing these improvements. That’s all I can consistently do for now.”
Mercedes’ leader, Toto Wolff, recently proposed that McLaren allow their two drivers to compete freely, as they see fit. However, Piastri doesn’t anticipate Norris adopting a more aggressive racing style toward him, potentially testing the limits of McLaren’s established operational guidelines.
“I don’t believe so. He’s certainly still a contender,” he mentioned. “While it’s become somewhat more challenging, I don’t foresee any major changes. I expect we’ll continue racing each other in the same manner. The degree of risk-taking will likely remain constant.”
“We’re both dedicated to driving as fast as possible. It’s not as if we’ve been deliberately holding back in any way.”
Photo by: Erik Junius
“May the best driver be victorious”
With nine events still on the schedule, Norris isn’t facing an immediate time constraint. However, the issue impacting his chances is the dominance of McLaren, which initially presented him with a title opportunity.
Yet, even should Norris consistently outperform Piastri, the advantage held by McLaren means that his teammate is unlikely to finish significantly behind him.
“It would undoubtedly make my campaign simpler if there were more drivers interspersed between us on occasion,” he stated, acknowledging the ironic aspect undermining his aspirations.
“The fact is, our team’s overwhelming strength is paradoxically making my task more difficult, which is the most disheartening element of the situation.”
Despite this, Norris maintains that he can accomplish his objective without Piastri experiencing a major setback. “I still believe I can secure the championship without any unfortunate circumstances, and that’s my preferred approach,” he added, without harboring any ill will toward his competitor.
“No, because in the end, if he has outperformed me, I will acknowledge his superiority and commend his success,” he stated. “That’s simply my nature. I wouldn’t wish for such a thing [to happen to him].”
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