Lando Norris Keeps His Cool Ahead of Abu Dhabi Finale Despite Qatar Setback
With one race left in a thrilling Formula 1 season, Lando Norris still holds the upper hand in the title race - even if Qatar didn’t exactly go to script.
Norris came into the Qatar Grand Prix with a golden opportunity to lock up his first-ever drivers’ championship. But a third-place finish in the Sprint and fourth in the main race meant that door remains open. He dropped points to both of his remaining title rivals - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri - and now heads to Abu Dhabi with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, with Piastri just four points further back.
Still, Norris isn’t hitting the panic button.
“There’s nothing I can do about it,” he said after Sunday’s race. “Not our greatest day, not our greatest weekend.
But I’ve had a great run before this. I’ve put myself in this position, and I’m still happy.”
And he’s got a point. Norris has been on a tear in recent weeks, racking up back-to-back wins in Mexico City and São Paulo that put him within touching distance of the title. Even after a rocky weekend in Qatar, he’s still in control - just with a little less breathing room than he might’ve liked.
Qatar's Missed Opportunities
The Lusail weekend wasn’t without its frustrations. Norris and McLaren had a chance to capitalize early in the main race when a Safety Car came out - a moment that often reshuffles the deck. But McLaren opted not to pit either of their drivers, a call that potentially cost both Norris and Piastri stronger finishes.
“Probably, yeah,” Norris admitted when asked if McLaren should’ve pitted him. “But both of us should have, so I would’ve been had over either way. We would’ve double-stacked and I might’ve lost time - not necessarily a position, but time.”
It’s the kind of strategic call that can define a race - or a championship. But Norris didn’t dwell on it, instead emphasizing his trust in the team’s decision-making.
“I have to have faith that the team are making the right call, and that’s what I had to do,” he said.
Self-Reflection and Accountability
Norris also owned up to a few mistakes of his own. He didn’t quite hit the mark in either qualifying session, and in the Sprint, he was overtaken by Verstappen at the start - a moment that set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
“It wasn’t my finest weekend in terms of driving and putting things together,” Norris said. “But that’s life.
Everyone has bad weekends, so I take it on the chin. We all take it on the chin.”
That kind of perspective matters. Especially with a driver like Verstappen lurking - a four-time defending champion who knows exactly how to pounce on the slightest slip.
Eyes on the Prize in Abu Dhabi
Despite the pressure, Norris isn’t changing his approach heading into the season finale at Yas Marina.
“It’s the same as every weekend,” he said. “I try and beat them, they try and beat me. It’s nothing different.”
That steady mindset could prove crucial. Norris has shown he can handle the spotlight, and he’s got the pace - and the points - to finish the job. But with Verstappen chasing a fifth straight title and Piastri still mathematically in the hunt, there’s no margin for error.
The stage is set for a dramatic showdown in Abu Dhabi. And while Norris may not have sealed the deal in Qatar, he’s still holding the cards. Now it’s just about playing them right.