Lando Norris has responded defiantly to boos after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix, insisting he can’t stop laughing at his critics after the weekend’s dominant win.
The McLaren driver recorded a sensational pole lap in Saturday’s qualifying and took a commanding victory in Sunday’s race, overtaking Oscar Piastri and returning to the top of the drivers’ championship with four races remaining.
During a post-race interview, as thousands of fans gathered at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez jeered, Norris awkwardly stopped speaking and told interviewer James Hinchcliffe that he was going to “ignore the whole thing”.
He was then booed for a second time when he went up to the podium to receive the trophy, but he explained in a subsequent press conference that he did not understand the fans’ reaction.
However, he dismissed the criticism and said it was funny to laugh back.
“People can honestly do what they want,” he said.
“They have the right to do it if they want to do it, and sometimes I think that’s what sport is about.
“I don’t know why I can’t stop laughing when I get booed. I think it makes it funnier for me. So if they want to, they can continue.”
“Of course you don’t want that. I like people to cheer for me and it was the same in Monza and some other places.”
“I don’t know why, but I can’t stop laughing, so if they want to continue, they can continue.”
One journalist suggested there was a perception in Mexico that McLaren favored Piastri over Piastri, citing his now infamous decision to change cars after a slow pit stop at Monza.
“If they want to think that way, they certainly have the right to do so,” Norris replied.
“They can think whatever they want. I think, of course, as a team we try to do things fairly.”
Why was Norris being booed? Still angry about the Monza exchange?
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Was McLaren’s pit stop drama at Monza the cause of boos in Mexico City?
The negative reaction from the crowd was clearly a surprise to Norris and the Sky Sports commentary team, who could only speculate as to why the fans were so loud in the paddock.
Race winners, especially those who win comfortably like Norris on Sunday, are often booed by some fans, but this reaction was more extreme than usual.
There is no apparent history between Norris and Mexican fans or drivers, apart from some comments made about Sergio Perez in Qatar last year. The Briton suggested that Verstappen does not have a teammate who can “challenge him in any way”, which could be taken as a direct criticism of the former Red Bull driver.
But Mexican fans’ main complaint seems to be more recent. At the post-race press conference, Carlos Jarife, a journalist with Mexican auto racing magazine Fast Mag, tried to explain the issue.
He claimed Norris was “given the championship” by McLaren, and McLaren’s “papaya rule” approach led the team to ask Piastri to step aside after a slow pit stop at the Italian Grand Prix to hand the position back to Norris. This decision was met with boos on the day.
Fast Mag also conducted a survey called “What should Rand do?” The most common response was, “Please give us three points back.”
Norris again insisted on Sunday that he was right to be in front at Monza as his first pit stop strategy was changed to help his team-mates, but fans in Mexico City appear to have a different view.
Norris: “Deserves praise”
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Mexico City Grand Prix Highlights
Sky Sports’ F1 experts were left perplexed by the crowd’s reaction, especially since it was the day Norris produced one of the best drives of his career.
Jamie Chadwick suggested that a landslide victory may not provide the entertainment some fans want, but insisted it should be respected.
“I hate it. I hate booing anybody,” she said.
“Cheer louder for those who want to cheer, but don’t boo anyone.
“What Lando did today doesn’t deserve boos. He gave a masterclass.
“Yeah, he was far away so it wasn’t the most exciting race for everyone to watch, but that should be celebrated, not booed.”
Karun Chandhok echoed these comments and said, “I hate booing. I hate it every time it happens.
“When people booed Max Verstappen at a particular race, it was completely wrong.
“Rand has done a great job and should be commended for that.”
Norris slows down title fight
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Norris talks about Mexico City GP victory on Sky Sports F1
The fan reaction was the only blemish on what was a hugely successful weekend for Norris. Norris is one point ahead of Piastri and 36 points ahead of Verstappen heading into next month’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris was 34 points behind his team-mate at the start of the season, but insists the change in momentum has not been that great now that the title race is in its final stages.
“I don’t believe in momentum in a way,” he told Sky Sports F1.
“One great weekend doesn’t really mean anything, two, three or four weekends in a row does.
“I’m playing against the best players in the world who can turn things around at any time, so it makes no sense to think that other players aren’t doing well when I’m doing great.
“I just focus on myself and focus on my job. That’s all I can do.”
F1’s thrilling title race continues in Brazil with a sprint weekend at the São Paulo Grand Prix from November 7th to 9th, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
