Lando Norris addresses unimaginable Max Verstappen pressure: 'I surprised myself'

Lando Norris has addressed the unimaginable pressure Max Verstappen applied in the closing rounds of the 2025 season, conceding that he "surprised himself" with how he handled it.

McLaren dominated the vast majority of last year until the closing rounds, following an upgrade package introduced by Red Bull at Monza that transformed the RB21.

It saw Verstappen somehow whittle down a 104-point deficit to sit just two points adrift of Norris following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen capitalised on every mistake McLaren made, including a double disqualification in Las Vegas after both Norris's and Oscar Piastri's cars were found to have exceeded the legal limit for plank wear.

Despite the pressure from the Dutchman, Norris remained calm and collected across the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, particularly at the final event, where he could not afford to finish lower than third if Verstappen won.

The reigning world champion did not expect to feel so relaxed in the final races after being disqualified in Las Vegas, while he recognises it as the moment that rapidly increased Red Bull's belief that it could break McLaren's hearts.

Asked if he felt Verstappen had an advantage in the final two rounds given his experience of winning titles, Norris replied on the Beyond the Grid podcast: "I'm unsure. 

"Obviously, the disqualification is the thing that gave them hope, really. It certainly didn't make me more nervous. Honestly, I don't know; I was surprised. 

"I surprised myself with how not nervous I was. I was never that confident, but I just wasn't nervous going into Abu Dhabi on Sunday, or even going into the Abu Dhabi or Qatar weekends. 

"It wasn't like I was thinking, 'Oh, they're hot on our heels,' or whatever it was, you know. I was surprised at how relaxed I was on Sunday in Abu Dhabi when, at the end of the day, it was only two points."