Lando Norris fires back at mindset change suggestion: 'I'll do what I like'

Lando Norris has denied he needs a change in mindset after asserting he expects Las Vegas to be a difficult weekend for McLaren.

The Briton has been on a strong run of form of late and currently holds a 24-point lead at the top of the drivers' championship with three rounds remaining.

Next on the schedule is Las Vegas, a venue McLaren struggled at last year. Following his win in Brazil last weekend, Norris detailed that he is not expecting the conditions of the track to favour the team once again.

The comment was delivered amid a highly successful campaign so far for McLaren, resulting in Norris being quizzed on whether he needed to shift his mindset and instead hope for a more positive event in Las Vegas.

Norris refuted the suggestion, telling media including RacingNews365: “No, I can say what I want. I can think what I want. I always try and be as honest as I can be.

“If I don't think we're going to be quick, I don't think we're going to be quick. And I'm not saying I'm going to be 10th. I'm just saying I think it's going to be difficult to win.

“We were a long way off - just go and look at the data from last year. Look at the race traces, we were miles off. There have been plenty of races where we’ve not been quick enough this year.

“It’s not like we've won every single race and you're expecting me to say those things. I’m just giving my opinion on whether I think it’s going to be easy.”

Norris crashed out of the maiden race from Las Vegas in 2023 and finished last year's edition sixth on the road, 43 seconds down on race-winner George Russell.

The back-to-back struggle from the Nevada race track has left the championship leader void of high confidence for the upcoming event.

“We’ve never been good in Vegas,” he added. “So why am I going to think, ‘Yeah, it's going to be fine?’ I'm giving my honest opinion on how I think we’re going to be.

“We’ve never been good there, so I'm not the most confident about going into that race. Maybe I'll win, then we’ll see.

“You’re very right to have your own opinion on what you think I should say and what I should not say and whatever, but I’ll do what I like.”