Norris plans to keep calm and carry on

MEXICO CITY — Lando Norris said he plans to continue his policy of staying relaxed and focused on just himself after taking a one-point lead in the Formula One drivers' world championship by winning Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix.

As McLaren teammate and chief title rival Oscar Piastri fought to finish fifth, Norris cruised to a commanding 30-second triumph ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who resisted a late charge by Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen with the aid of a late Virtual Safety Car intervention.

It was Norris' first win in Mexico and the 10th of his career, lifting him to 357 points in the title race ahead of Piastri on 356, and putting him top for the first time in six months, since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April.

With four events remaining, Norris has seized the momentum and is also 36 points ahead of in-form Verstappen, who has reeled off six consecutive podium finishes to reduce the 104-point lead Piastri held at the end of August.

"It's one weekend at a time for me," said Norris, whose competitive mentality and composure have been questioned this season.

"I'm happy and I'm focused on myself. I'm just keeping my head down and I keep to myself.

"It's working for me at the minute, so I'm happy. But, what a race. I could just keep my eyes forward and focus on what I was doing."

Staying calm amid a carnival atmosphere at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, he added: "It was pretty straightforward, which is just what I wanted. A good start, a good launch and a good first lap, and then, I could go from there.

"I just stay relaxed and it helps. It helped me get a good start and it's the best thing for me.

"This is awesome and I love it, my first win in Mexico, and what a beautiful one to win here in this stadium."

'Trying to learn'

Piastri, who emerged from a mostly desultory weekend with a feisty race, admitted that he had to change his driving style to adapt to different circumstances after seeing how Norris has adapted in recent races.

"Today, there was a lot of fight. The whole race I was right behind someone and struggling with dirty air, so that was pretty difficult," Piastri said.

"For me, the biggest thing is trying to learn the things I want to learn. Yesterday, it became obvious after the session that there were a few pretty major things I had to change in the way I was driving.

"Today was about first trying to implement that. If I've made some progress with that, I will be happy, but, obviously, when your teammate wins the race, finishing fifth is not that extravagant.

"I think I've had to drive very differently in the last couple of weeks, which, when it's been working well for the previous 19 races, it is a bit difficult wrap my head around. The last couple of weeks, the car and tires required a different way of driving.

"We tried a few things today, and we'll see if that's what we're looking for. It is nothing to do with the car. The last couple of races have been surprising in terms of the pace — Lando has found it easier to dial into that and I haven't.

"It's about adding tools to the toolbox rather than reinventing myself."

'A nice surprise'

Driving with great authority, the 25-year-old Norris came home 30.324 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Leclerc, with four-time champion Verstappen third for Red Bull.

Leclerc, who gained his seventh podium of the season, said: "I am very happy with the weekend.

"We didn't know what to expect here so to get on the podium is a nice surprise."

For Verstappen, it ended his sparkling streak that has seen him win three of the past four races.

"It was very hectic at the start and I almost crashed out," the Dutchman said.

"To be fighting for P2 with all that happened — it was a strong race for me," he reflected.

Teenage rookie Oliver Bearman in the Haas was a career best fourth ahead of Piastri, and Mercedes' young rookie Kimi Antonelli.

The Italian's teammate George Russell was seventh, ahead of seventime champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari, Esteban Ocon in the second Haas and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto.

The packed stands, on a hot day at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, witnessed a chaotic, high-speed start, as the leaders powered down and into the first corner.

Norris made a good start from his 14th career pole and was one of four cars abreast as they turned in, but he managed to hold on to the lead despite the pressure from Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen.

AFP