Lando Norris Sends a Championship Warning with Dominant Mexico City Triumph

Lando Norris delivered the performance of his career at the Mexico City Grand Prix, storming to a lights-to-flag victory that reignited his world championship ambitions and firmly re-established McLaren as the benchmark team of 2025.

For the 25-year-old Briton, it was more than just a win. It was a statement — one that placed him back atop the drivers’ standings for the first time since April, when team-mate Oscar Piastri had briefly seized control following his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix victory. Norris’ triumph in Mexico marked his fourth win in the last seven races, clawing back 35 points since his heartbreak retirement in Zandvoort two months ago.

“It gives me confidence,” Norris said after taking the chequered flag. “One race doesn’t prove much, but several good weekends in a row show we’re doing things right. This felt like my best weekend all season.”

From the moment he returned to the cockpit after handing Friday’s first practice to Mexican IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, Norris looked untouchable. He seized pole position with one of the laps of the year, and when the lights went out, he never looked back. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc briefly took the lead by cutting Turn 3 but quickly yielded the place, allowing Norris to disappear into the distance.

Behind him, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Leclerc could only watch as the McLaren carved through the high-altitude circuit with precision. Verstappen, chasing his fifth straight title, salvaged third but admitted Norris’ pace was “a bit of a wake-up call.”

The result reflected McLaren’s remarkable mid-season evolution. Since introducing front-suspension tweaks in Canada, Norris has rediscovered his connection with the car, while Piastri — dominant early in the season — has struggled to adapt to changing grip levels. Team principal Andrea Stella explained that Norris’ driving style thrives in low-grip conditions, which Mexico City amplified.

Piastri, who finished fifth, spent much of the race experimenting with setup changes after qualifying nearly six-tenths behind his team-mate. “The last couple of races have needed a very different way of driving,” he admitted. “It hasn’t felt natural.”

With just four races left, the championship remains wide open. Norris leads the charge by a slender margin, Piastri and Verstappen lurking close behind. What’s clear, however, is that McLaren’s resurgence has transformed the title fight into a three-way battle — and Norris’ Mexico masterclass may have been the psychological breakthrough he needed.

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