Lando Norris has defiantly responded to boos following his Mexican Grand Prix victory, insisting he can’t stop laughing at his critics after a weekend of dominance.
The McLaren driver followed up a sensational round in Saturday’s qualifying with an emphatic victory in Sunday’s race to leapfrog Oscar Piastri and move back to the top of the drivers’ championship standings with four races remaining.
During the post-race interview, Norris awkwardly stopped speaking as thousands of fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez jeered at him, prompting him to tell interviewer James Hinchcliffe that he was “going to ignore all of this”.
He was then booed for a second time as he appeared on the podium to collect his trophy, and later explained in a press conference that he did not understand the fans’ reaction.
However, he dismissed the criticism and said it was “fun” to laugh at them.
“People can do whatever they want, honestly,” he said.
“They have the right to do that if they want to. I think that’s the sport sometimes.”
“I don’t know why I can’t stop laughing when they boo me. I think it makes it more fun. So yeah, they can keep working if they want to.”
“Of course you don’t want to. I prefer people cheering for me. It was like that in Monza and a few other places.
“I don’t know why, I just can’t stop laughing, so if they want to continue they can.”
One journalist suggested there was a perception in Mexico that McLaren favored him over Piastre, citing the now infamous decision to switch cars at Monza after a slow pit stop.
“If that’s what they want to think, then they’re certainly entitled to that,” Norris replied.
“They can think whatever they want. I guess as a team, of course, we try to do things fairly.
Norris ‘should be applauded’
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Highlights of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The Ski Sports F1 pundits were baffled by the crowd’s reaction, especially on a day when Norris pulled off one of the best moves of his career.
Jamie Chadwick suggested the dominant win might not offer the entertainment some fans would have liked, but insisted it should be respected.
“I hate it. I hate booing for anybody,” she said.
“Cheer louder for the person you want to support, but don’t boo anyone.”
“What Lando did today doesn’t deserve any booing. He gave a master class.”
“Okay, he was in the distance, so it wasn’t the most exciting race for everyone to watch, but that should be applauded, not booed.”
Karun Chandhok echoed those comments, saying: “I hate booing. Whenever it happens, I hate it.
“When people booed Max Verstappen at certain races, it’s just wrong.”
Lando has done an outstanding job and it should be commended.
Norris slows momentum in title race
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Lando Norris talks about his win at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Ski Sports F1.
The fan reaction was the only blemish on a hugely successful weekend for Norris, who is one point ahead of Piastri and 36 ahead of Verstappen ahead of next month’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris trailed his team-mate by 34 points earlier this season, but insists the change in momentum is not significant as the title race enters the home stretch.
“I don’t believe in momentum in a way,” he said Ski Sports F1.
“One great weekend really means nothing. Two, three or four in a row mean something.”
“I’m fighting the best guys in the world who can turn everything around at any moment. So there’s no point in thinking that I feel amazing and others don’t or whatever.
“I just focus on me, focus on my job. That’s all I can do.”
The thrilling race for the Formula 1 title continues in Brazil with a sprint weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from November 7-9, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Ski Sports from NOW – no contract, cancel anytime