Lando Norris has asserted that the pressure to secure the Formula One drivers’ championship currently rests with Kimi Antonelli, who leads the standings by a significant margin heading into the summer break. Antonelli, the 18-year-old Italian driver for Mercedes, has won six of the 11 races completed so far this season, building a 50-point advantage over seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, trails Hamilton by an additional nine points, hampered by a series of mechanical issues. Norris, meanwhile, sits 91 points behind the leader.

Norris’s title defense has faltered early in the season, largely due to McLaren’s car performance lagging behind the pace set by Mercedes. However, Norris recently claimed his first victory of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where an updated McLaren car demonstrated strong competitiveness. His last win prior to Hungary had been at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in November of the previous year.

Reflecting on his prospects after Hungary’s success, Norris said the championship pressure lies with Antonelli. He noted that while Mercedes has made mistakes, McLaren has executed fewer errors and is on an upward trajectory. “The pressure is on him,” Norris stated, adding that he has been feeling confident despite the current points gap.

Norris also emphasized the need for consistent performance across all remaining races, with 12 events planned after the four-week summer shutdown. “We were the quickest in Hungary from qualifying to the race,” he said, acknowledging that not every race would be straightforward. “We need to work hard to try to get the car to be this good everywhere.” If McLaren can maintain this level of performance, Norris suggested a championship challenge could become a realistic possibility. “We just need to be perfect from here for the whole year,” he concluded.

The upcoming races will test whether Norris and McLaren can capitalize on their recent momentum and close the gap to Mercedes and Antonelli, who currently appears well-positioned to contend for this year’s drivers’ crown.