Doornbos doubts Norris can repeat F1 title success

(GMM) Former Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos (pictured) says “everyone” knows that Lando Norris was not the best driver of the 2025 season and has cast doubt on whether the new world champion will ever win another title.

“The 2025 world champion isn’t the best driver of 2025, and everyone thinks so,” Doornbos told the Dutch magazine Formule 1.

The Dutchman believes Norris’ biggest weakness remains mental resilience, particularly under pressure. “I know how it works. When the media writes well about you, it’s fun. And when they write badly about you, you can say, ‘I don’t read it,’ but you still get it,” he said.

According to Doornbos, drivers like Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are far less affected by external noise.

“For Norris, it’s different, based on his character. And something like that can easily become a bottleneck if you want to compete for titles at this level,” he explained.

“Formula 1 is a split-decision sport. If you have one negative thought, conscious or subconscious, it can easily cost you two to three hundredths.”

Doornbos argues that Norris’ maiden championship owed everything to having the best car. “He owes his first title entirely to his car,” he said, adding that the achievement still removes a major burden.

“With that title, the monkey is off his back. Then his life’s work is accomplished, and everything that follows will be a bonus.”

Whether more titles will follow is another matter. Doornbos drew a comparison with Jenson Button, who won his only championship in 2009 with Brawn GP.

“The difference is in the car,” he said. “Norris’ McLaren has been the dominant car all year. The similarity with Button is the shrinking lead and the tension that brings.”

While accepting that a title is a title, Doornbos concluded that doubts will always linger.

“There will always be a certain something to Norris’ title. He could and should have made it much easier for himself,” he said. “And will he get another chance like that? That’s highly questionable with next year’s new technical regulations.”