It’s hard to believe that Lando Norris only won his first Formula one Grand Prix 18 months ago.

Since winning the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, Norris has secured an additional 10 wins and has quickly become one of the most well-known F1 drivers. However, despite reaching a new peak in his career, he has also seemingly become one of the most hated drivers on the grid, even receiving boos on the podium following the Mexico Grand Prix.

Where did all of this hate come from, and is it justified? Let’s break down the reasons for Lando Norris’ drop in popularity.

Norris’s controversial comments

Throughout his career in F1, Lando Norris has been a PR team’s nightmare at times, making many rash and impulsive comments that have later needed damage control.

Interestingly, the most notable comments from the junior driver have actually been at the expense of veteran drivers like Lewis Hamilton. In 2020, Norris seemingly downplayed Hamilton’s success by chalking it all up to car performance. This caused an uproar amongst Hamilton’s very dedicated fanbase, with Norris later issuing an apology for his comments on social media.

The two drivers have maintained positive relations since, but this incident was one of many times where Norris has made a comment that ruffled feathers. Yes, he entered the sport at a young age, but knowing how to navigate media is a huge component of being a high-profile athlete. Being unable to control one’s emotions in the heat of the moment is a quick way to lose trust with a fanbase and dampen one’s credibility.

Greater success means higher expectations

Somewhere along the path towards success, Lando Norris stopped being an underdog and became a top contender, regularly in the mix for a podium finish. This is not a circumstance unique to F1. Every sport in existence is familiar with a former underdog becoming significantly less fun to root for once they achieve regular success.

In Norris’ case, this is even further amplified by the McLaren F1 team’s dominance this season. Team principal Zac Brown has also publicly compared Norris to legendary drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Ayrton Senna. Many believe that, despite his undeniable talents, Norris has yet to rise to the same heights.

Achieving results in any sport moves the needle of success further, and Norris has now set the bar for what success looks like for him. From here on out, achieving anything less is simply underperforming.

Drama within McLaren

For much of the 2025 season, Lando Norris has been locked into a fierce Driver’s Championship battle with his teammate Oscar Piastri. However, the fairness of this battle has been a heated topic, with McLaren making several controversial calls in the name of team rules that have advantaged Norris. Currently, the championship is Norris’ to lose, with a 24-point lead over Piastri, despite Piastri leading the fight for the first half of the season.

Many fans have also pointed out the difference in temperament between Norris and Piastri. It’s interesting to consider what Norris’ reaction would be to the same team decisions if roles were reversed.

Whether McLaren is actually intentionally favouring Norris or not, this situation has just added fuel to the fire and has turned many of Piastri’s fans against the British driver.

Comparisons to other drivers

Despite no longer being an underdog, some fans would argue that Lando Norris’s performance still does not match expectations.

Norris is frequently compared to his teammate Piastri, who has arguably achieved quicker success in the sport, despite a much shorter career. It took Norris over four seasons and 110 races before finally securing his first F1 race win. However, Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri achieved his first win in a fraction of the time, winning the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix in his second season. Since then, Piastri has gone on to secure nine total race wins, outpacing Norris.

A common criticism of Norris has also been that his perceived ego and attitude don’t match his performance on track. Norris has been upfront about his self-critical attitude and cares deeply about his perception. He also responds to adversity publicly in the media, rather than behind closed doors. This is the exact opposite of Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who has feuded with Norris in the past. Despite being a polarizing driver, everyone can agree that Verstappen simply does not care what anyone thinks of him and is happy to let his track performance speak for itself.

Can Norris secure his first Drivers’ Championship win?

The end of the 2025 season is weeks away, and Lando Norris is on the cusp of his first-ever Driver’s Championship. Whether he can cement this win is likely the most significant factor for his perceived status in the sport. Lando Norris fans and haters alike will be anxiously waiting to see if the driver can get the job done and bring home the title.