Norris enforces a ban on partying and drinking due to a decline in performance.

      "I’m currently competing for a world championship"

      As Lando Norris relinquishes his lead in the world championship standings, the McLaren driver has stated that he will skip any wild parties in Holland this weekend. A year ago, the 25-year-old participated in the renowned King’s Day festivities in the Netherlands, where he joined DJ Martin Garrix on a party boat. It was reported that he sustained a minor cut on his nose while intoxicated, which was still visible when he attended the subsequent Grand Prix in Miami.

      Following a challenging weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where he crashed in qualifying and lost his lead to his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris confesses that he is in dire need of a break. "I genuinely need a break," he expressed late on Sunday after the demanding triple-header in Suzuka, Bahrain, and Jeddah. "I believe the entire team needs it, not just me," Norris mentioned to Canal Plus.

      "I had the pace to win the race today quite easily," he remarked. "However, I didn’t put in the necessary work beforehand. I'm competing against the best in the world - Max, Oscar, Charles (Leclerc), George (Russell). When I make even the slightest mistake, I immediately face the consequences."

      Coincidentally, the 2025 King’s Day aligns with Formula 1’s rare weekend break coming up soon. However, Norris has confirmed that he will not be attending this time. "No, unfortunately not," the Brit replied to Viaplay. "I would have loved to go again, as it was one of the best days of my life, and I also won in Miami right after. Plus, I miss all my friends. I had a great week in Amsterdam with Martin (Garrix), but I’m now focused on fighting for a world championship."

      "I can't afford to partake in anything like that right now. I have to return home and train. This race (Saudi Arabia) was physically taxing, and I would love to have a drink now, but I haven’t consumed a single alcoholic beverage all year, and I'm proud of that. I just need to keep working hard and refrain from going out to celebrate."

      Indeed, amidst his challenges on the track in Jeddah and earlier, the mental resilience of the McLaren driver has drawn significant attention in international media. "We’ve observed him make these mistakes a few times now," former F1 driver Timo Glock told Sky Deutschland on Sunday, "and ultimately, that’s what can cost you a world championship."

      Glock supports Norris’ decision to maintain a low profile ahead of Miami. "It’s crucial that he doesn’t let himself get too disheartened by the inevitable questions that will be directed at him again," the German noted. Glock compared Norris’ demeanor with that of the new championship leader, Oscar Piastri. "Perhaps Oscar’s advantage lies in having a steady heart rate and not experiencing those peaks or emotional outbursts," said the former Toyota driver.

      Even Norris’ team leaders are urging the five-time Grand Prix winner to refine his approach. "He doesn’t need to go faster," stated McLaren CEO Zak Brown. "He’s already quick enough. Yet in the last few races, he has almost overexerted himself a bit in Q3. He needs to ease off a little. He possesses both the car and the talent, and perhaps he doesn’t need to push quite so hard."

      Team boss Andrea Stella concurs: "As Lando himself recognizes, he needs to refine his Saturdays a bit, and then things will improve."