Lando Norris, fighting for the world drivers and constructors, with McLaren, saw a great opportunity slip away in the GP in Austin. Starting from pole position, the British driver was unable to defend the lead already at turn 1, leaving space for Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. His weekend, between difficulties in the race and a penalty for a heated duel with Verstappen, raised questions about his real state of form to aim for the title. Despite his talent, Norris showed a certain lack of clarity in the decisive moments, a factor that could distance him from the fight for the world championship.
Decisive penalty
The crucial moment of the race for Norris it was the duel with Max Verstappen, in the final stages of the GP in Austin. After staying at the back for most of the race, Lando finally found the pace to attack the reigning world champion. However, in an attempt to overtake at turn 15, both drivers ended up off the track. Norris passed Verstappen, but his move was immediately investigated by the stewards.
The final decision came shortly after: a five-second penalty for Norris, which ended his chances of a podium. “He also went off the track,” said a visibly frustrated Norris. “If we both went off, it means we were pushing to the limit. But I was the only one who got the penalty. It’s hard to know if the judges’ decision was right or not. If they didn’t get it right away, it was obviously not a clear-cut situation.”
A weekend to forget
The Austin weekend looked promising for Norris, with pole position in qualifying and the chance to close in on Max Verstappen in the drivers' standings. But right from the start, the Englishman showed some uncertainty, leaving too much space for his opponents. “I tried to anticipate Max and Charles, but in the end I left the line open. It's easy to say afterwards, but Max drove better than me today,” Norris admitted after the race.
With this result, Norris moves further away from Verstappen in the world championship standings. His inconsistent performances at a crucial moment of the season, combined with the penalty received, leave many doubting his ability to handle the pressure in such a tight title fight.

The future of the championship
For Norris and McLaren, Austin represents a missed opportunity. With Max Verstappen now on a course for his fourth world title, the gap between the two is widening further. “It was a tough race, and we weren’t quick enough today,” said Norris, highlighting the difficulties his car was having. “We expected more, but that’s how it went. Now we need to understand what went wrong and try to improve in the next races.”
The title race seems increasingly uphill for the British driver, who will have to find greater consistency and aggression in the next few races to have a chance of competing with Verstappen until the end of the season.