On July 2nd, I mentioned that Lando Norris needs to elevate his performance to transition from being viewed as a fast, talented “pop star” of Formula 1 to establishing himself as a tier-one race winner and championship contender. Today, in an article by Andrew Benson published on the BBC Sport website, Norris admitted that he is not yet at a world champion level.

OK, so he didn’t directly address me—but clearly, he reads the Daily Car Blog F1 section… AHEM! Or so I’d like to believe. There’s no denying Norris’s speed and talent, but he hasn’t yet progressed from that fast and talented “pop star” image.

Now it’s time for him to rise to the next level. Otherwise, being fast and talented will only be good enough to win the occasional race. And winning the occasional race will not secure a coveted world championship title.

This season, with one of the fastest cars at his disposal, Norris has no place to run or hide—he has been exposed as still being in the transitional phase of shedding the “fast and talented” label. So, how does Norris reach the next level?

Eliminating small mistakes is just one step, but reaching the next level goes much deeper than simply having an error-free weekend or performance upgrades. It requires pushing that extra bit, taking calculated risks, and pushing yourself mentally just that little harder.

Reaching the next level also means mastering the minute details—not just in one race, but at every race, every weekend. This mindset is second nature for the likes of Hamilton, Alonso, and Verstappen, and that’s why Norris’s challenge is on the wane in 2024.