During a recent interview after today’s Sprint Qualifying in Brazil, Lando Norris’ patience was tested. After a commendable performance which saw him secure a position just behind his teammate Oscar Piastri and ahead of motorsport heavyweights such as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, Norris faced the press with frustration.

Norris’ journey to Formula 1 began with an illustrious junior career in which he won titles in various racing series, marking him as a promising talent. Since he debuted with McLaren in 2019, Norris has shown steady growth, culminating in podiums and, more recently, race wins. His commitment to McLaren is unwavering, as evidenced by his recent multi-year contract extension with the Papaya team. This year in particular has seen a rise in the performance of the Woking outfit.

Amid the excitement at the Sao Paulo GP, Norris was expected to be in high demand for post-race comments. He was favorite for pole position during the SQ3 sprint qualifying session and his final lap, although marred by errors, still placed him competitively on the grid. When pressed about Verstappen’s qualifying position and the wider championship implications, Norris’ response was straightforward.

“I don’t care. I hate these questions. I don’t care where they qualify. Focus on my own work. It’s the same question every time. It doesn’t matter. I’ll do my best.” Norris told F1TV.

interaction between Norris and Piastri at McLaren adds another dimension to the team’s strategy this season. Piastri, who joined McLaren in 2023, quickly proved to be a strong contender, which was evident when he overtook Norris for pole in sprint qualifying. Despite this internal rivalry, Norris’ focus remains on self-improvement and team success.

“A big improvement from where we were earlier today,” Norris said. “We fought a lot. A bit surprised I was so fast today, but nice today.”

Qualifying sessions for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix are inherently tough, with the unpredictability of the weather and the pressure of a tight time slot to ensure enough data for the race ahead.

“A good first round, I made too many mistakes in my final so I boxed. Good job as a team,” he admitted.

His ability to compartmentalize and focus on his and his team’s performance, rather than getting caught up in rival narratives, shows his maturity. “I didn’t expect it. A nice surprise and I made too many mistakes in my last lap, that’s all,” he concluded.