Norris's biggest title rival is exuding an invincible aura

Without a victory since the season-opener in Australia, Lando Norris had some ground to make up at race four in Bahrain. After an under-par qualifying, he recovered from sixth on the grid and a false start to ultimately finish on the podium in third. Yet despite teammate Oscar Piastri claiming his second win of

- KIERAN JACKSON FORMULA 1 CORRESPONDENT

Without a victory since the season-opener in Australia, Lando Norris had some ground to make up at race four in Bahrain. After an under-par qualifying, he recovered from sixth on the grid and a false start to ultimately finish on the podium in third. Yet despite teammate Oscar Piastri claiming his second win of 2025, the Briton extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings from one point to three points.

“Everyone says I’m leading the championship, I don’t know how at the minute, I’m pretty surprised,” Norris said. It wasn’t his first self-deprecating quote of the weekend – it likely won’t be his last of the season.

It was a theme, starting in Spain last June, which persevered throughout Norris’s inaugural title tilt up against Max Verstappen in 2024. Despite his obvious skill behind the wheel, Norris would often present a figure of self-doubt, constantly questioning his abilities, particularly up against one of the modern greats in the Dutchman.

“I am not doubting myself, even though sometimes it might seem like that,” Norris said, in more depth, after Sunday’s race. “I know what I can do and what I am capable of and I am not even close to reaching that like yesterday – I am very disappointed in myself. That’s just the way I am, I am just so hungry to win.