Lando Norris has said that he is feeling relaxed heading into the penultimate race of the season in Qatar. Norris, who currently sits at the top of the drivers’ standings, could win this season’s title if all goes well this weekend.

McLaren suffered a bad fate at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last weekend when both drivers were disqualified after the skid blocks on their cars faced excessive wear. This incident narrowed the gap between both drivers and Verstappen, who is in third place. 

A win at the race would not have crowned Norris as champion, but it would have helped his odds. Now, his fate rests on how this weekend’s race plays out. But he is not disturbed. 

Talking about how he feels going into the race, Norris made it clear that he is just as relaxed as he was even when he wasn’t leading the pack. He said, “I feel as relaxed as I was before when I was 35 points behind the lead, and I feel the same when I’m 24 points ahead. That’s my strength for now.”

That is a bold statement to make at this critical juncture, and it goes to show the weight of the moment. Staying relaxed is probably the only reasonable option, as it will help eliminate mistakes and keep him focused. 

It’s been a tough season for the British driver, who finished second last year. For most of the season, he was in second place while teammate Oscar Piastri led the standings. 

The combined effort of both drivers helped the team win the constructors’ championship, and now, it’s time to see if they can snag an extra crown. 

Beneath his composed frame, Norris still seethes with disappointment over what happened in Vegas: “Of course it hurts. There’s a lot of effort that goes into every weekend from everyone, including myself. All that effort just felt like it disappeared very quickly.”

Still, he recognises that the loss at Vegas is not the end of the world and that this weekend’s race is another chance for better luck.