Lando Norris keeps having to answer one strange question when he takes pole position for McLaren

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Lando Norris bagged his third pole position of the 2025 season at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday. He did so by a monumental margin of more than half a second.

Lewis Hamilton aside perhaps, Norris has arguably faced as much media scrutiny as any other driver this year. He entered 2025 as the title favourite given that McLaren had a dominant package.

But the Englishman hasn’t lived up to expectations so far, with Oscar Piastri outperforming him across the board. He arrived at this weekend’s race 22 points behind in the standings.

The doubts over Norris went up a level at the previous race in Canada when he collided with Piastri and found the barriers. Some have even called for him to be demoted to the team’s number two.

Lando Norris keeps being asked why he doesn’t look happy when he bags pole

Norris’ mindset has also been extensively debated. Piastri is regarded as effortlessly composed behind the wheel.

In the past, Norris has been brutally self-critical, perhaps subjecting himself to more emotional swings over the course of a season. But he appears to be more level-headed this year regardless of his result.

Indeed, even after the incident with Piastri in Canada, he didn’t appear dejected. He simply took responsibility, apologised and moved on.

Norris has also been measured after his three poles, much to the surprise of some in the media. In parc ferme at the Austrian Grand Prix, F1TV interviewer David Coulthard said: “You didn’t do the first practice session, you’ve been top of the times every time you’ve done a lap around this track.

“I feel I’m a little bit more impressed and excited by that lap than you are. Is this just a new, steely focus for this weekend?”

“I don’t know,” Norris replied. “I mean, I’m still very happy. It’s just a long season. I still savour this moment, especially because there have been some tougher moments in qualifying.

“So, to put in a lap like today, to have the performance throughout this weekend like I had, was pleasing for myself. But I’m excited. It’s a long race tomorrow. I’m very happy with today, but I want to prove it to myself over and over again, and hopefully this is just the beginning of it.”

Similarly, Natalie Pinkham questioned the lack of celebrations from Norris in the media pen when he led the way in Monaco qualifying.

“I was expecting a little bit more going on here,” she said. “Is this the new Lando, playing it cool? [You’re meant to] just be really excited because that was phenomenal. Enjoy the moment! Come on, I know inside you’re dancing!”

Was this the change that inspired Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix?

It’s strange that Norris’ demeanour on a Saturday is being analysed quite so much. One could argue that other drivers don’t receive the same treatment.

If anything, it’s a positive that he’s looking ahead. He knows he hasn’t achieved anything until the chequered flag falls.

• READ MORE: Damon Hill notices one thing Lando Norris did immediately after scoring ‘massive’ Austrian Grand Prix pole

The feeling at McLaren coming into the session was that Norris needed to ‘rein it in’ in qualifying, driving at 99% rather than 100%. Perhaps he took that on board.

Indeed, the 25-year-old was faultless throughout the hour-long session, when previously he’d been guilty of straying over the limit.