Lando Norris has taken the lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, dethroning teammate Oscar Piastri from the top spot. Over the past five race weekends, the British driver has steadily chipped away at Piastri’s lead, ultimately surpassing him and moving into the championship’s higher ground.

Following the conclusion of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Piastri had initially claimed the lead in the standings. However, 15 race weekends later, the dynamics changed significantly within the McLaren camp. While much attention was focused on Max Verstappen’s attempts to catch the McLaren duo, a notable shift occurred between Norris and Piastri themselves.

This change in momentum was particularly evident at the Mexican Grand Prix. Norris secured pole position, while Piastri struggled in qualifying, managing only a seventh-place start. Norris capitalized on this advantage by leading every lap of the race, cruising to a dominant victory. His win not only reduced Piastri’s lead by 15 points but also propelled Norris into the championship lead by a single point.

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill acknowledged the importance of such momentum shifts. After the Mexican GP, Hill captioned an Instagram story reflecting the current state of the championship: “Momentum is real.”

Despite his strong performance, Norris faced unexpected boos from some fans during the Mexican race weekend. This reaction sparked discussions around whether the booing tainted his impressive victory. However, Norris took the situation in stride. Speaking at the post-race press conference, he said:

“I like sour sweets, so… I don’t know why to be honest. People can do what they want, honestly. They have the right to do it if they want to do it. That’s the sport sometimes. I don’t know why I can’t stop laughing when I get booed. I think it makes it more entertaining for me. So yeah, they can keep doing it if they want. Of course, you don’t want it. I prefer if people cheer for me. But I don’t know, who knows. Like I said, I just concentrate on doing my things. It was the same in Monza and a few other places. So if they want to continue, they can.”

Norris’ victory in Mexico marked his sixth race win of the season and was particularly special, as he dominated the Grand Prix from start to finish. With four race weekends remaining on the F1 calendar, this win has boosted his championship points tally to 357.

As the season approaches its climax, all eyes will be on Norris and Piastri as the battle for the championship intensifies. One thing is clear: momentum plays a crucial role in Formula 1, and right now, it’s firmly on Norris’ side.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-damon-hill-drops-3-word-reaction-lando-norris-taking-championship-lead-oscar-piastri