You don't have to like it, but it's becoming pretty hard to deny: Lando Norris has been driving like a world champion lately. If he keeps this up, nothing will be able to prevent it from becoming a reality in the near future.
Once considered a long shot after his mechanical retirement at the Dutch Grand Prix left him 34 points behind Oscar Piastri, Norris has now flipped the championship on its head. And he did it by correcting McLaren's two biggest flaws since the outfit's return as a front-runner last season: executing in high-pressure situations and maintaining consistency.
The last two race weekends have showcased Norris' improvement. With talk of Max Verstappen as a title threat being hotter than ever entering Mexico, the McLaren driver almost found himself to be an afterthought. Since then, Norris has topped every competitive session, while his title rivals have floundered, whether due to team errors or driver execution.
It wasn't without a few high-stakes moments, either. Norris held onto first through Mexico's 830-meter run to Turn 1 - the longest on the F1 calendar - despite starting from pole, a disadvantage at the circuit. Unpredictable weather and collisions dominated the following weekend in Interlagos, but Norris stayed composed and out of danger, something that his teammate and title rival Piastri couldn't say.
The consistency and mental fortitude required to win a 24-race championship sometimes feel underestimated. Momentum swings constantly, and the winner is usually the driver who reaches their peaks more often while limiting the bleeding when things aren't going their way. In those categories, Norris' reliability has been the difference-maker.
Norris leads the drivers in podiums this season with 17, and his 2.11 average finishing position is miles ahead of Piastri (2.85). His podium percentage of 80.95% would tie for the 13th-highest in F1 history, with only multiple-time world champions having hit that mark.
Norris' four non-podiums this season are a fourth in Jeddah, a seventh in Baku, and two retirements. Piastri, by contrast, has seven, including two fourths, three fifths, a ninth, and a retirement. While Norris has typically found a way to claw back to a podium when he's hit a rough patch, Piastri has struggled to do the same, especially recently.
Norris is enjoying a 24-point cushion in the drivers' title standings, putting himself in a position to finish second in every remaining race and sprint and still win the title. Although McLaren deserves praise for delivering the best car, don't forget to tip your cap to the Papaya driver who's currently executing on the level of a champion.
