Norris quits parties and drinks: ‘I’m fighting for the championship now’

Lando Norris has made clear that he’s all business in 2025, and that means making sacrifices – including skipping one of his favourite days of the year.

The McLaren driver has confirmed he will not be attending King’s Day in Amsterdam this weekend, opting instead to remain focused on training and preparation for the Miami Grand Prix.

Last year, Norris joined Dutch DJ Martin Garrix for the annual street-and-canal party and emerged with a bloodied nose after cutting himself on broken glass during a boat celebration.

That vibrant celebration was followed, ironically, by the best moment of Norris’ career to date – his maiden Grand Prix victory in Miami.

But after a costly qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia left him fourth on race day and cost him the championship lead to teammate Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver is doubling down on discipline.

However, Norris admitted on the F1 Nation podcast that his quest for perfection may be adding undue pressure, signaling a need to “chill out” to reclaim his edge.

"Fighting for a Championship Now"

Norris’s decision to forgo King’s Day reflects his laser focus on the title fight. With the 2025 championship on the line, the 25-year-old is taking no chances

“No. I would have loved to go again because it was one of the best days of my life,” he told Viaplay. “And last time, I won in Miami straight afterwards.

“I miss all my friends. I had a good week in Amsterdam with Martin, but I’m fighting for the World Championship now. I can’t afford to do that now. I have to go back home and train.

“This race [in Saudi Arabia] was physically demanding and I’d like to have a drink now. But I haven’t had a single drink all year and I’m proud of that. I just have to keep working hard and can’t go out and party.

“I’m competing against the best in the world here – Max, Oscar, Charles and George,” he said. “If I make even the slightest mistake, I have to pay for it immediately.”

While he remains focused and physically prepared, Norris admits that the mental pressure of chasing perfection has crept in.

“I Want to Do So Well” — Pressure Mounts

In a revealing post-race conversation on the F1 Nation podcast, Norris opened up about the toll that self-imposed pressure has taken on his recent performances, like his crash in Q3 in Jeddah.

“I’m probably putting a bit too much pressure on myself at the minute, not because of any [particular] reason, and not because of the championship and all these things,” he said.

“I just put too much pressure on myself because I want to do well, like I want to do so well.”

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Norris admitted that the pursuit of perfection has, at times, backfired.

“I want to be on pole, I want to win, I want to be perfect, and I think I need to accept a little bit more that I’m not going to be perfect, and I’m making mistakes because I’m trying to be perfect, rather than the other way around.”

Still, the Brit remains confident in his raw pace and potential to win races – especially if he can regain his composure during the key qualifying sessions.

“I think I just need to chill out a little bit and have a bit more trust in my speed, because my speed today, and my speed in every race this season, has been, I think, the best,” he said.

“I’m very confident that I can win the races if I just give myself a better chance on Saturday.

“It’s easier said than done, and I need to go out and do a better job on Saturdays, but that’s what I’ll be working on.”

With that mindset—and a little less pressure on himself—Norris is hoping to rediscover the rhythm that put him on top of the standings earlier this season.

And if that means putting fun on hold, so be it. The championship is calling.

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