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The Heavy Crown: Norris 'Frustrated' as Leclerc and Russell Celebrate
As the Formula 1 circus rages on, it is not all champagne and laurel wreaths; recent Grand Prix races show that even a world champion can lose their luster.
By Kritische Hans van den Broekma - 2026-07-05T19:00:00.000Z - 2 min read
Oh, how delightfully unpredictable Formula 1 can be! After a weekend of British grandeur at Silverstone, where Charles Leclerc showed us once again what real driving is, we mustn't forget George Russell either. That lad snatched victory in Austria and put his title challenge right back on track. Round of applause, gentlemen! It just proves that the sport is alive and kicking, even if the top of the standings sometimes seems a little… predictable.
But amidst all this celebratory noise, there is one person who might have temporarily lost the 'joy' of his world title this season: our very own Lando Norris. Yes indeed, the reigning world champion himself. Apparently, wearing that golden laurel wreath is heavier than expected, because the poor lad from Great Britain admitted to being quite frustrated with his season so far. A champion complaining? That must be a first!
Journalist Andrew Benson's question ahead of Norris's home race at Silverstone, asking just how 'frustrating' the season had been, was apparently more than justified. While Leclerc and Russell grab their moments of glory, and we can even still recall Lewis Hamilton's triumph in Barcelona for Ferrari – yes, Hamilton at Ferrari, that still takes some getting used to – Norris seems to be struggling with high expectations. Poor Lando. It must be terrible not dominating every single weekend as world champion, mustn't it?
So, while BBC podcast panels dwell on tactical blunders and 'epic battles' in Canada, it is Norris's mental struggle that causes the most head-shaking, albeit with a wink. Perhaps someone should tell him that Formula 1 is not just about winning, but also about entertaining the audience, even if that means pretending to enjoy yourself once in a while. Or who knows, maybe a bit of healthy frustration will sharpen the champion's edge. Could a world champion still spring a surprise after all? I won't hold my breath.