Norris Hits Back at Critics After Brazil Win: “Ignore Everyone Talking Rubbish!”

Lando Norris has fired back at his critics after a dominant weekend at the São Paulo Grand Prix. The British driver, who now leads the world championship, says he pays no attention to negative talk and is fully focused on maintaining his current form.

The McLaren driver is in the form of his life. Norris won both the sprint and the main race at Interlagos, marking his second consecutive double victory. With three rounds to go, he leads Oscar Piastri by 24 points and defending champion Max Verstappen by 49.

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Norris Fires Back

The 25-year-old has faced plenty of criticism this season, particularly after a series of mistakes early in the year. But those difficult days seem long behind him. “Ignore everyone talking rubbish! Just focus on yourself,” Norris said with a grin after the race. “The team’s doing an incredible job and giving me a great car. We’re pushing hard every weekend, and I’m working hard off the track too. It’s paying off — none of this happens by accident.”

When pressed in the post-race press conference about what he meant, Norris elaborated. “Honestly, nothing specific. There are always people trying to drag you down — that’s just part of being in the spotlight. There’s a lot of noise, and some people try to influence others. Even the cheers or the lack of them — you hear it all. It’s not always pleasant, but I think I’ve handled it well over the past few months.”

Staying True to Himself

Norris is known for being open and honest in the media, a trait that some have viewed as a weakness. Last year, he even admitted that he “barely ate” on race days due to nerves. Recently, he was booed in Mexico City despite winning, and in São Paulo the crowd’s reaction was again muted. Still, the McLaren star refuses to be affected.

“I used to care too much about what people said — even earlier this year,” Norris admitted. “That didn’t help me. I’ve learned to deal with it better, not by ignoring it completely, because I still care about making a good impression and being respectful. But I stay true to myself. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned: believe in yourself, say what you think, and keep your head down. The rest is just noise.”

Focused on the Title Fight

With his commanding form, Norris has a real chance to become the eleventh British world champion in Formula 1 history. Yet he’s keeping his feet firmly on the ground. “The title fight can change very quickly,” he warned. “Just look at what Oscar did this weekend. I’m just trying to win races and score as many points as possible. That’s what we’ve done in Mexico and here in Brazil. Those are strong results — exactly what I need. But there’s still a long way to go, so I’m not celebrating too early.”