Imagine being with a team for five years, steadily working towards getting to the front of the field. While you’re doing that, your rookie teammate jumps in the car and gets their first win before you do. How would you feel? Because Lando Norris sure isn’t feeling great. Since McLaren introduced its major upgrade package, Norris had gotten used to delivering every time he stepped out on track. McLaren could count on him, and he knew he could too. But a string of mistakes in Qatar allowed Oscar Piastri to capitalize and get his first win—albeit in a Sprint—before his experienced teammate. Mistakes. That’s what cost him in Qatar, and that’s what cost him at the Mexican GP.

“In the races, anyone can move forward; even I can,” said former Red Bull driver Mark Webber. “[Sergio Perez] has to sort qualifying out.” Whether or not Sergio Perez has been beating himself up about his qualifying performances, Norris sure is.

Lando Norris was beside himself after his Mexican GP exploits

When you look at it from the outside, Norris started the race from P17 and crossed the line in P5. he made up 12 places at a venue where overtaking isn’t the easiest, and even got Driver of the Day. Former driver Martin Brundle even said, “This has to be one of Lando’s best drives of his career.” Considering all that, you would think the 23-year-old would be happy with his performance. Well, he wasn’t. At least not with his Saturday form.

Throughout the weekend, Norris looked like Max Verstappen’s closest competitor for pole position. In a shocking turn of events, Norris qualified nineteenth on Saturday after making a mistake on the only flying lap opportunity he got. After securing four podiums in a row, aided by strong qualifying performances on all occasions, the Mexican GP qualifying was a letdown.

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Motorsport.com asked him about his weekend after Sunday’s race. The McLaren driver wasn’t happy, and said, “I know people complain at why I’m so disappointed at times. And it’s because of days like today. Of course, I’m going to be disappointed, right? There’s a chance to finish on the podium and get another trophy, score more points. Why would I ever be happy about a day like Saturday?” Considering how good his race pace was, he couldn’t help but think of what could’ve been.

“We Didn’t Get It Right”: Lando Norris Looks Back on Trial by Fire After Rampaging Through Unexpected Challenge

Although Norris was disappointed about the what-ifs, everyone around him was mighty impressed by the fight he put up on Sunday.

Lando Norris earned a Fernando Alonso comparison

The Mexico City qualifying was a shock session where Norris bowed out in Q1, and it wasn’t Verstappen who took pole—it was Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari front-row lockout. Seeing this, Norris felt he could’ve taken his second pole position. It was just a lot of “woulda, coulda, shoulda’s” for him. Just like in Qatar, he was disappointed, but let it go much quicker and instead focused on Sunday. And it paid off.

After his fight through the field, Team Principal Andrea Stella couldn’t help but compare his drive to one of Fernando Alonso’s. In an interview with The Race, Stella said, “That was one of the best driver performances I have ever seen from any of the drivers I’ve worked with. It reminded me of Valencia 2012 [Alonso at Ferrari].” At the 2012 European GP, Alonso qualified in P11 in front of his home crowd. He fought through the field and gave his home support what they wanted—a home win.

Watch This Story: “F**ked It Up Again”: Lando Norris’ Frustrated Apology After Bad Luck at 2023 Monaco GP

Where would you rank Lando Norris’ fight through the field at the Mexican GP in your list?