Norris Praised for Blocking Out Criticism in Title Fight

In the ongoing 2025 Formula One season, Lando Norris is locked in a tight championship battle with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Heading into the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, Norris trails Piastri by just 9 points.

Norris has faced public scrutiny throughout the season, openly questioning his own performances and mistakes that have allowed Piastri to take an early lead. However, his former teammate Carlos Sainz, who is now driving for Williams, has been impressed by the way Norris has handled the pressure.

Sainz believes Norris has "managed to block all the noise and put himself back in the championship fight." The Spaniard praised the British driver's mental resilience, noting that the "British media are tough on him" but he has recovered well from his setbacks.

Sainz himself is in his debut campaign at Williams after leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season. The Scuderia had been expected to mount a strong title challenge this year, but they have struggled to keep pace with the surprisingly competitive McLaren car.

Sainz admitted that Ferrari's lack of performance has "surprised" him, as he had seen the team as "ready to win a world championship" when he departed. Instead, it is McLaren who have "come up with a car that is blowing the competition away," leaving Ferrari a whopping 299 points adrift.

The former Ferrari driver also empathized with the struggles of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has found it challenging to adapt to his new car at Williams. Sainz believes the ability to quickly adapt to a different car is often "underestimated" in Formula One.