McLaren Reveals Key to Lando Norris's Mexico GP Dominance

Lando Norris's commanding victory at the 2025 Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix was largely due to the track's unique characteristics perfectly suiting his driving style, according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. This win puts Norris at the top of the F1 championship standings with four races remaining, marking a significant turning point in his season.

Why it matters:

• Norris's performance in Mexico signals a potential shift in the championship battle, as he now leads teammate Oscar Piastri.
• The win breaks McLaren's five-race winless streak and highlights the team's growing understanding of how to consistently extract performance from the MCL39.
• This victory underscores Norris's ability to excel in challenging, low-grip conditions, a critical skill in high-stakes championship contention.

The details:

• Track Suitability: The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez's high-altitude and low-grip conditions cause cars to slide significantly through corners. Stella noted that this environment perfectly complements Norris's natural driving style.
• Teammate Contrast: While Norris thrived, Oscar Piastri struggled with the same conditions, finishing fifth. This contrast in performance in similar circumstances highlights the nuanced differences in driver adaptation to specific track conditions.
• Championship Lead: Norris now holds a one-point lead over Piastri, reclaiming the championship lead he lost earlier in the season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
• Breakthrough Moment: A crucial post-Singapore debrief, just two races before Mexico, was instrumental. McLaren and Norris focused on configuring the MCL39 more to his liking, leading to this dominant performance.
• Statistical Dominance: Norris's victory in Mexico was his 10th career Grand Prix win and the most statistically dominant since Max Verstappen's win in Hungary two years prior. He finished a remarkable 30 seconds ahead of runner-up Charles Leclerc.
• Consistent Performance: Stella was not surprised by Norris's performance, pointing to similar levels of dominance seen in previous seasons at venues like Zandvoort and Singapore.

What's next:

• The final four races will be critical for both Norris and Piastri as they vie for the championship title. McLaren's newfound understanding of the MCL39's performance potential could give them an edge.
• Norris's boosted confidence from this win, coupled with the team's enhanced insights, positions McLaren strongly for the remainder of the season.
• The team aims to maintain this consistent performance, avoiding scenarios where potential performance is 'left in the garage,' as seen in some earlier races.