Lando Norris Hits Back at Critics After Sao Paulo Grand Prix Victory

Lando Norris says he’s “ignoring everyone that talks c***” after taking firm control of the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with a commanding victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix.

The McLaren star completed a near-perfect weekend at Interlagos, winning both the Sprint and Grand Prix to open up a 24-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri, with Max Verstappen now 49 points adrift and only three rounds remaining.

It’s the second time this season Norris has achieved back-to-back race victories, and his recent form has silenced earlier criticism about his ability to handle the pressure of a title fight.

“Ignore Everyone That Talks C***”

When asked what had changed to bring about his resurgence, Norris didn’t hold back.

“Just ignore everyone that talks c*** about you! Just focus on yourself,” he said with a smile.

“The team are doing an amazing job, giving me a great car. We’re pushing hard every single weekend and I’m pushing hard away from the track. Rewarding it doesn’t come easy, that’s for sure.”

Pressed to elaborate in the post-race press conference, Norris explained that learning to block out negativity has been key to his improved mindset.

“Honestly, nothing in particular. But there’s always people out there that try and bring you down a little bit. I guess it’s quite normal.

“When you’re on a big stage, there’s a lot of people that talk and say things, try to influence others. Even the cheers and the not-cheers you still hear it. It’s not the nicest thing. But I think it’s something I’ve done well over the last few months.”

A Newfound Mental Strength

Norris has long been known for his openness and emotional honesty, but that transparency has sometimes drawn criticism from those who claim it shows weakness. The 25-year-old admitted that earlier in his career, and even at the start of this season, he cared too much about outside opinions.

“I care a lot about people’s perspectives and how I’m portrayed,” he said. “I probably cared too much even at the beginning of the year, I think it was affecting me in not the best ways.

“I’ve just learned to deal with those things better not by not caring, because I still always want to make a good impression. I never want to be rude or dismissive.

“But I’ve learned to be true to myself, have confidence, believe in myself, and speak my mind. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned: keep your head down, concentrate on yourself, and don’t let the noise get to you.”

Booed in Mexico, Unfazed in Brazil

Norris faced boos from sections of the crowd in Mexico City after his dominant win there, and the reception in São Paulo was similarly muted. Still, he brushed off the lack of cheers, saying his focus remains purely on performance.

Eyes on the Championship

Now just three races away from potentially becoming the 11th British driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship, Norris is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“It just feels like another weekend where I came to try and win and get the most points I could and I did that,” he said. “I did the same in Mexico. Neither are turning points; they’re just strong results, which is exactly what I need.

“It’s still a long way to go. The title race can change so quickly we saw that with Oscar’s offs this weekend. So there’s no point getting too happy or excited just yet.”

With Norris now in control of the championship and McLaren continuing to dominate both titles, the 2025 season looks set for a thrilling finale one that could see the Brit finally claim the crown that has long seemed within reach.

From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.

For more F1 news and videos, follow us on Microsoft Start.

New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge