Lando Norris says he would not consider not winning the 2025 Formula 1 championship as a failure if that was the ultimate outcome at the end of the season, Afrosport reports.
Norris won his third race of the season at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix to cut his deficit to McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri to 15 points.
The 25-year-old started the season as championship favourite after challenging Max Verstappen to the 2024 title but has been outpowered by his younger teammate, Piastri, who has won five grands prix out of 11 so far.
It has led to suggestions that the Australian is now the favourite to win the championship which Norris is not moved by.
“I’d have to say I didn’t succeed in what my goal was but I don’t think you can ever call it a failure because I don’t believe like I’ve failed anything,” he said.
“I feel like maybe I just didn’t live up to what I believed I could have done or the level I should have done at certain times.
“I think if things were much easier and you don’t achieve your goal maybe you can call it a failure but when it’s 24 races it’s such a long season against the best in the world I don’t think you can ever call it a failure. Maybe you didn’t succeed.”
He added: “I certainly think I’ve improved. It may be very easy to say the opposite from the outside because I’ve just made some more mistakes. But I certainly feel like I’m a more complete driver.
“It’s more the desire, almost too much desire inside to want to do such a good job every weekend, to deliver for the team
“I want to deliver for the team and I want to win. I kind of put myself under the pressure too much but I understand that.”
Happy to be on home turf 🏠#McLaren | #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/9NMCkaQvrX
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 3, 2025
Norris will hope to claim back-to-back wins when he heads to Silverstone for his home race at the British Grand Prix this weekend.
