Lando Norris ‘collapses as imola grand prix qua...

Lando Norris ‘collapses as imola grand prix qua… read more

Lando Norris has come under fire from 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who claims the McLaren driver “collapses” under pressure during key qualifying moments. This criticism followed Norris’ performance in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where expectations were high after strong practice runs.

Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri had shown impressive form heading into Saturday’s qualifying session, with each driver topping different practice sessions. It appeared that the McLaren duo would be the ones to beat. However, when it mattered most in Q3, it was Piastri who rose to the occasion, securing pole position with a lap time of 1:14.670. Norris, on the other hand, struggled during his final attempt and ended up only fourth fastest, trailing by nearly three-tenths of a second.

In Q3, Norris had a chance to challenge for the front row alongside Max Verstappen and Piastri, with Verstappen having set the early benchmark. While Piastri responded by improving his time and taking provisional pole from Verstappen, Norris failed to deliver on his second run. His scrappy lap not only prevented him from securing the front row but also allowed George Russell to slip ahead, pushing him further down the grid.

Norris later expressed his disappointment, acknowledging the opportunity he missed. He admitted that while the car was performing well and he had felt confident in Q1 and Q2, something wasn’t clicking when he tried to extract maximum performance in Q3. “I’m not going to just blame the car. That’s not me,” Norris said. “I felt good all weekend… but when I try and go for lap time, it just doesn’t go.”

This inconsistency in qualifying led Villeneuve to question Norris’ ability to handle high-pressure situations. Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Villeneuve remarked that while Piastri seemed to thrive under pressure, Norris often falters. “He collapses every time there’s a bit of pressure,” Villeneuve stated. “Last year, he was the qualifier of the team, but now Piastri is stepping up while Norris crumbles.”

Villeneuve went further, analyzing Norris’ behavior under pressure. He noted that Norris generally has the pace and can even have the upper hand over Piastri at times, but he loses his edge when it truly counts. According to Villeneuve, Norris’ tendency to overthink during crucial moments disrupts his natural driving rhythm, costing him valuable tenths of a second.

Despite his criticism of Norris’ qualifying performances, Villeneuve believes the Briton performs better during races. He noted that race conditions demand a different mindset, focused more on tyre and temperature management than all-out speed. In that environment, Villeneuve said, Norris appears more composed and less affected by pressure.

In summary, while Norris continues to show strong race pace, his recent qualifying struggles, especially compared to Piastri, have drawn criticism. As the 2025 season progresses, the spotlight will remain on whether he can regain the qualifying form that once set him apart.