Why Lando Norris’ stone-faced response to Spanish Grand Prix speaks volumes

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Lando Norris has made a name for himself with his unique podium celebration. Instead of traditional champagne, he sprays sparkling wine from his Ferrari Trento bottle towards his competitors and the spectators below. This modern twist on a classic tradition has solidified his reputation as one of the most popular drivers in Formula One, especially among younger fans who enjoy seeing these quick moments shared on social media.

However, on Sunday, there was no celebratory bottle popping. There was no cheerful attitude. Instead, Norris appeared serious and emotionless as he gestured towards Max Verstappen, who won the Spanish Grand Prix. Norris had started the race in the fastest car from the pole position. However, after 66 laps, it seemed like a missed chance for victory.

Norris finished in 19th place in the recent race, but unfortunately did not get his second win. His response after the race and during interviews showed that he was being very humble. After winning in Miami last month, Norris is not satisfied with second place anymore, especially after coming close in Imola, Montreal, and now Barcelona.

During the team communication, engineer Will Joseph praised him for finishing second and earning the extra point for the fastest lap. To this, Norris responded by saying, "It's not important. I should have been the winner."

"I messed up the beginning. The car was fantastic, it deserved better."

The seriousness persisted during the interview with David Coulthard. He stated that he should have won the race, not just that he could have. Coulthard admitted that he had a poor start, which cost him the victory despite having a great car that was the fastest of the day.

This weekend had many good points, but one bad thing overshadowed them all. I acknowledge this and must figure out a solution for next time. The race did not meet my expectations, as I believe I should have come out as the winner.

We've witnessed this situation previously. In a previous incident in Qatar, Norris was extremely angry with himself for a mistake that cost him pole position in qualifying. He also referred to a error he made in Saudi Arabia earlier this year as foolish. Out of all the drivers currently, it is clear that Norris is highly frustrated with himself.

His self-criticism is evident in his comments. Although Norris fell to third place at the beginning when George Russell quickly moved his Mercedes into first, with Verstappen also managing to pass Norris. McLaren chose a different race strategy, bringing their driver into the pit six laps after Verstappen, which led to Norris having to navigate through slower cars on the track.

When it appeared that Verstappen could be caught up to in a late surge, similar to what happened in Imola last month, there was too big of a gap to overcome. Hamilton finished the race 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen.

However, even though his boss Zak Brown, engineers, and members of the media were all emphasizing the good aspects of his performance, Norris didn't care about surpassing Charles Leclerc to move into second place in the championship standings (the highest he has ever been). He is now focused on achieving more, as his mindset has shifted.

During an interview with Sky Sports' Rachel Brookes, Norris mentioned that he was now two points ahead of Leclerc, but emphasized that he was still trailing the leader. He stated that it's not the position, but the gap to first place that matters to him.

Today was not a good day. I was not just upset about losing the race, but losing to Max, who is currently leading the championship.

Norris had big goals of winning the championship, which he made clear during the race. Joseph suggested pitting to protect against Russell and Mercedes, but Norris made it clear he wanted to focus on catching Max instead. This decision showed his determination and focus.

With 10 races already completed and 14 more to go, Norris has a 69-point gap to Verstappen. He knows that McLaren has given him a competitive car that can even outpace Red Bull. The recent race in Barcelona was a good sign for the rest of the season, as Norris was faster than Verstappen on race day.

This is the reason Norris was feeling upset. The young 24-year-old is aware of how fast a lead in Formula One can disappear. He must take advantage of the current situation and perform well at the upcoming races in Austria and Silverstone, where he has had success before. He can't afford to miss any more chances; it's crucial for Norris to win that first-place prize once more.