Lando Norris explains his ‘different mentality’ to Max Verstappen as he reflects on his own motivation to win

Lando Norris believes it is “clear” that he has a “different mentality” to Max Verstappen, with the Briton reflecting on what motivates his own desire to win and the areas that he still wants to improve on.

Following his maiden World Championship triumph, Norris is preparing to defend his title in the 2026 season, a year in which a wave of new technical regulations will come into effect.

Speaking to a select group of media, including F1.com, the McLaren driver looked ahead to the upcoming campaign and said of his championship victory: “I have that feeling, one day – if I don’t achieve something again – I have something to always fall back on and I’ll always be proud, no matter what people say.”

Norris was later quizzed on whether he felt that other serial race winners might have also adopted this approach, with the 26-year-old going on to explain how he feels that he differs to his 2025 title rival – and four-time World Champion – Verstappen.

“I can’t answer on what went before and what those guys thought, but I think it’s quite clear that I have a different mentality and a different approach to say what Max has – good or bad, you decide,” said Norris.

“There are a lot of things I admire in Max, where I wish I had a little bit more of that here and there, but I’m always trying to improve my things.

“I know there are still areas where I’m not at the level I need to be, and it’s still a good level but when you are fighting these guys you need to be close to perfection.

“So there are still plenty of things I want to work on and I want to be better on, but the baseline level I’m at right now is still pretty good.”

The 11-time race winner went on to assess what fuels him to succeed as he insisted that his desire to collect further victories has not been changed by his World Championship.

“My motivation to win is exactly the same,” Norris explained. “I’ve definitely not lost anything – if anything I think I just have more confidence. I’ve said in interviews and stuff in the past, I’m very much a guy who has to see something to believe it, especially when it’s been anything to do with myself.

“Did I believe I could be on pole for the first time or win a race? When I’ve done it, then I’ve gone, ‘Ah, I can do it’. That’s just how, for whatever reason, I’ve thought and I’ve believed and things like that.

“I certainly got better at a lot of things last year, just like mental preparation and the mental state, dealing with the good times and bad times and all of the in-between. I certainly have to find my own way and not disregard what other people have done in the past, but just understand what is always going to motivate me.

“A lot of my motivation is not just picturing me on the top step of the podium or holding up a trophy – a lot of it is being with the team and allowing them to have the trophies and party and celebrate and that kind of thing.

“I’m not too fussed about what other people have thought about stuff, but my motivation is just as high to try and win again.”