What Mercedes engineers said about Lando Norris that will terrify Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen

Follow us on Google Discover

Lando Norris produced one of the most dominant drives of the Formula 1 season under pressure to win the Mexican Grand Prix.

As a result, he’s back in control of the drivers’ championship with four races to go, holding a one-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri. Despite his so far miraculous comeback, Max Verstappen remains an outside shout for top honours, another 35 points behind in third place.

The Mexican Grand Prix really proved where the balance of power lies in Formula 1 currently. Red Bull defied the odds to reach the podium, while McLaren dominated a race they should always have won. But, they do have something to worry about as Piastri’s confusing struggles continue.

Norris is now relieved at McLaren after his team decided to scrap any repercussions from a bold lap one move in Singapore. McLaren also have a clever engine strategy, which means that they should be able to push until the final lap in Abu Dhabi. They will remain quick in a straight line.

READ MORE: Simon Lazenby has noticed a change in Oscar Piastri since he started winning Formula 1 races

Mercedes engineers believe Lando Norris drove at 90% during the Mexican Grand Prix

Laurent Mekies doesn’t think Verstappen could’ve beaten Norris in Mexico, and felt as though the McLaren had far too much pace for anyone to get close. He ran his race in clean air, only having to deal with some cars as he lapped them.

Norris has a new calmness under pressure, which should serve him well as the intensity of the title fight ramps up. He got a taste of what it would be like to fight Verstappen in a high-stakes situation last year, and that experience should serve him well this time around, too.

But it isn’t just psychologically where he might have an advantage. His McLaren car can be dominant depending on whether the track suits its characteristics, and rival Formula 1 teams are well aware of it.

According to Michael Schmidt, Mercedes engineers believe that Norris was driving at 90% capacity in Mexico. If that’s true, and he dominated by so much, then both Verstappen and Piastri will be terrified of what he might be capable of in the final four races this year.

“It must be said that Norris had a huge lead,” said Schmidt. “He managed everything, of course. The Mercedes people said Norris probably only drove at 90% [of his potential]. He could have reacted if Verstappen had really gotten closer. He never would have come close to Norris.”

READ MORE: Timo Glock feels Lando Norris is not the 2025 F1 title favourite unless he’s ‘understood’ one thing

How did Lando Norris perform in the last four races of the 2024 F1 season?

It’s hard to really gauge what to expect from the title protagonists in the final few races of the season, given that their cars have evolved so much recently.

The closest comparable example would be to look back at 2024 and see who stepped up at the end of the season.

In Norris’ case, he won the season-closer in Abu Dhabi, but struggled at the three rounds prior, finishing sixth in Brazil and Las Vegas, and 10th in Qatar.

He can’t afford to replicate that sort of performance this year, and will need to step up further. If the fight does go down to the last race, Abu Dhabi is a circuit which suits McLaren, giving their drivers the upper hand.