Lando Norris knows what he needs to fix to get back to the top of an F1 podium

MIAMI, Florida — A year ago in Miami Lando Norris climbed up to the top step of a podium for the first time in his Formula 1 career, shedding the moniker “Lando No-wins” and kickstarting McLaren’s run to the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.

Norris returns to Miami this week filled with memories but looking to alter course on what has been an uneven start to his 2025 season. While Norris began the year as the odds-on favorite to win the Drivers’ Championship and won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, he arrives in Miami sitting second to teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings.

Still, the memories from a year ago have yet to fade for Norris.

“It’s stuff I dreamed of as a kid – winning and standing on the top step – and I managed to do it here, which was a cool place to do it. So just good memories, good times,” said Norris in Thursday’s FIA Press Conference. “Thinking back to the race, checkered flag, seeing the team celebrations – a lot of things that always bring a smile to my face. So hopefully the plan is to try and do it again.”

However, if Norris wants a repeat of last year he’ll need to iron out some of his recent performances, which have put him behind the eight ball at the end of qualifying. While Norris was among the favorites for pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix, a miscue in Q3 saw him qualify in sixth. A similar scenario played out the following week at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he was again a favorite but crashed early in Q3, leading to a P10 start.

Piastri won both races, allowing the Australian driver to leap ahead of Norris atop the Drivers’ Championship standings.

Norris said on Thursday he was working on where he needs to improve.

“I’m working on my things, what to improve, and trying to figure out all the things behind the scenes on what I need to do better on,” said Norris. “It’s certainly not because of a lack of speed or ability to do so. I’ve often led the way in Q1 and Q2, but always when I’ve got to Q3, then it’s not gone to plan. So yeah, there’s stuff from the driving side and from the car side, where things haven’t clicked.

“But I’m working on it and hopefully this weekend I can put it into practice.”

Later during the press conference, Norris was asked if he believed the “momentum” of the championship had gone away from him, with Piastri having won three of the last four races. Norris brushed that notion aside, making it clear he was not a big believer in the idea of momentum.

“No, not worried at all. He’s doing a good job and he deserves it. Nothing more than that. I don’t believe so much in the momentum stuff – that’s just my opinion,” began Norris. “I’m doing what I can. I’ve clearly made some mistakes and not at the level I need to be, but I believe I can be at that level soon enough.

“So no reason to be worried. 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 get into gear a little bit.”

Norris then reiterated that there is ... something that he is working on to fix that, while “difficult,” he believes he will get right soon enough.

“I’m doing the best I can every weekend at the minute, trying to improve. But the speed is there, the pace is there, the race pace is definitely there. It’s just one thing I need to tidy up. It’s a difficult thing, but I’m confident I’ll get it,” added Norris.

Something else that might help is an upcoming upgrade package to the MCL39. Last year in Miami the team introduced an upgrade package that paid off immediately. With Norris having made it clear that he is having his share of struggles with the car, Team Principal Andrea Stella spoke earlier this week about an upgrade that may help Norris.

The driver does not know when that package will arrive but believes it will help his cause.

“I certainly think it will help. I honestly don’t know the exact timeline of things. There’s also a mixture of things that will slowly come and be implemented over time,” began Norris.

However, the driver does not want to rely on upgrades alone.

“But I also don’t want to rely on that myself. There are things I’m working on separately, and hopefully that’s a better fix than waiting for other bits to come,” continued Norris.

“But it’s good we’re working as a team and trying to understand these things. It’s been clear that there have been differences from last year in how the car works, how it acts, and how I’m able to get lap time out of it and perform. So, a mixture of things. I have to be a little patient with some things – some are bigger than others – but it takes time. So I just keep my head down and keep pushing myself.”

Norris is known for pushing himself, to the point that some of his self-criticism has even opened him up to more questions about his approach. But as the saying goes, winning cures all. And if Norris can fix that “difficult” issue quickly enough, he might get back to the top step of a podium before you know it.

Perhaps at the same track where he first reached the top step.

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