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A walk down Lando Memory Lane - Lando focused GP rewatches

United States GP 2025

Quick review: Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story. First, I loved this race. I really did. I understand why people might not like it - and if you read the race report, the morale was down - but for me, it was great racing. Since lap 1, I felt like my breath was taken away from me and I only managed one quick inhale halfway through. Two, there was something in the water that day because this race is 100% Lando-centric. He's the main character, everybody wants him, everyone is rooting for him, this is his show and I love it.

Tagline: The face that launched a thousand ships

Endgame: Points: 332 (18 for race) P2, 14 points to Oscar, 26 points ahead of Max.

Rating: Watch it.

Rules Lawyer: We got 4 (!!!) black and white flags for track limits. Kimi, Gabi, Alex and Lando.

Fs in the chat: Kimi, for spining out of points after collision with Carlos.

Keeping it fair: Tell me about a complicated man, Muse. Tell me how he fought and lost when he had attempted to conquer COTA GP 2025 and how it went, and who he overtook, what strat he was on, and how he worked to win this race and bring points back home. Charles had quite a race. I know, he's in front and I prefer to praise drivers who were less in the spotlight but my eyes were glued to the screen and Charles happened to be there, driving the amazing defensive drive, on an alternative strategy he didn't believe in but deliverd. Bonus for Yuki, 6 positions up and in the points.

Obligatory Lando Glazing: Sing, oh, Muse, the song of heroic fight for P2 and the absolute masterclass with tyres and pace and racecraft. I know, I know, I know. He should have passed Charles earlier! He should not have lost P2! Hush! Quiet! Charles is incredible driver. I know opinions on him differ but he is good. Lando is good too and what have we experienced here, in this race, was a battle of two drivers who are close in skill and Lando emerged victorious out of this battle. Also, Lewis was always behind and he never even got close to threatening Lando. Lando would have probably preferred to fight Max for P1, but, you know, in terms of racing, what Charles and Lando has given us was mesmerizing. No wonder the camera couldn't move from them. You won't get that sort of racing unless the drivers are skilled and talented. It had to be witchcraft, that Lando didn't murder his tyres after all that following. Charles was always at his fingertips and he never let go, unless on purpose. And then, during that second stint, when we were in danger of getting penalty for track limits, he dug his heels in and refused to let it happen. There is no greater fame for a man than that which he wins with his footwork or the skill of his hands.

He's Helen of Troy: I don't know why but Lando has been constantly on the mind for all top 6 cars during the race. I tried to keep count on how often his lap time was given to Max, George, Lewis, Charles or Oscar but gave up because it just kept happening. Pit stops, lock-ups, tyre management. Max was even keeping count for Lando's strikes. Everyone wanted to know what is he up to! Bonus Norstappen and Charlando Crumbs: At the end of the race, during the interview, Lando and Charles were so engrossed in the chat Martin the Commentator had to interrupt them. Then it happens again, between Max and Lando, as Charles answered.

Strategy Room This damn team. I realize it might have been bluff, but hearing Zak Brown say at L24: Trying to figure out what our tyre strategy and sequence is here. Zak.... 🤦I mean, I wouldn't expect him to just admit in the open what they're doing but it did not feel me with hope.

Tin Foil Hat On: Because of someone's heroics in L1T1 during the Sprint, McLaren had less data to work with. Maybe if they managed to go till the end, they'd be better prepared for a race and Lando wouldn't have lost place to Charles. Who knows.

Papaya Rules Alpine Edition: Hilariously, Franco gets told to hold position behind Pierre. I think it was while Max was about to lap them and Gabi was behind? Anyway, Franco went let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter, completely ignores the orders and bravely overtakes. For P17.

Papaya Rules: Now, again, this is not strictly racing but... The absolute humiliation rituals of that silly papaya team. What do you mean that after talking such big game about Lando's repercussions, not even a race later Oscar shunts them both during the Sprint and they have to roll it back? This is just a whole circus, how are they not ashamed? Not even a race later... And they want to be taken seriously, with all that flip-flopping, please. (Some sources, but they will all tell you the same thing.)

PR Division: The fact that McLaren could just keep quiet about the repercussions and avoid this nonsense altogether, but they wanted to parade around as a fair team and a good guy - you chose if they succeeded - and surely patted themselves on the back for doing this only for it to play in their faces is absolute cinema.

Broadcast notes: We have a whole graph with championship points, showing Top 3's progress so far. On L24, Crofty: Zak, you are one of the chirpiest, most cheeriest people I've ever come across, not just in Formula One, but has this been a bit od a depressing weekend for you? Zak: Tough weekend but not depressing.This man... L40 Martin the Commentator: This is worth 3 extra championship points to Lando Norris, if he can pass Charles Leclerc, in what I think is going to become an incredibly close fight with Max Verstappen for World Championship...... And Oscar Piastri. 😶

Funny Bit: Post race, Hulk: Oh, yeah! Give it to me, give it to me, give me the points!

Don't Shoot the Messenger: Post race, Laura, Esteban's RE: You're P15, Ollie was P9. Esteban: What are you doing to me, guys, honestly? Isack, I don't want to not like you but you are threading on thin ice, being mean to Pierre Hamelin. I'm serious about him, so check your attitude!

Fashion corner: White parts on McLaren, too little of them and still too much black but I'll take it, thank you. Plus, white suits. Just negative of the one from Silverstone '25, but we gotta love it! Lando's special helmet. Not my favourite work from him, but it's fine.

S🅱️inalla count: Kimi: 1 (L6), Alex: 1, (I only saw replay, don't know when because they refuse to label it), Ollie: 1 (L35)

Mark Webber Jumpscare: 1 (L40)

Landoless Radio: 1

Good Guy Will count: 3 Also, I have to say that I was very moved by Will today and I think he did exactly the right thing. Lando was almost ready to give up when he couldn't overtake Charles and Will provided exactly the right guidance, said the right words, so, thank you, Will. ❤️

Thoughts:

Now Muse, child of Zeus, tell the old story for our modern times. Find the beginning.

Oscar P6, Lando P2. I pray for times like this. Perfect! F1 patron saints, please, I'm begging, good race. <- they listened

Charles is on softs, that is fascinating. He's P3 and the other people with that tyre are Gabi P16 and Lance P19. No wonder he was stressed out about it.

I'm nervous, that T1 is brutal.

Shoot, Charles takes a wild line into T1 and gets us, we're P3. Those softs, man.

L3 There's a lot of movement everywhere but I have to look out for Lando. And I have something to look at, Charles' defence is rock solid and Lando is relentless in attacking him.

L5 You know, I don't even care if Lando gets by. I want him to, but this is battle is simply *chef's kiss*

L6 Kimi spun out. He's still going. I wonder if he'll pit if it's VSC or SC.

L7 VSC. Carlos and Kimi had contact.

Come, Friend, you too must die. Carlos is OUT.

L7 Will: So far the hard does not look like a great tyre. Wait, who's on hard? Oh, yikies, P16, P17 and P18.

L8 Alex had contact with Gabi and pits.

L9 Lando lost a lot of time to Charles under VCS. Weird...

L9 Lando: How hard can I push my front left? Cause there's gotta be graining, right? Will: We aren't particularly worried about the graining, we think it's shallow. From our side, we think it's rear limited.

L10 Everyone complains about front left.

L12 Will: This might feel shit, but you're doing good job. We're on plan B, btw.

L13 Hm, my eye caught Oscar's radio and he's been asked if he can make it plan A plus 5. He said yes but now they switching to plan B.

L13 Lando is 1s quicker than Oscar. I cannot tell if it's because he's slow or because- Wait, no. He said he can make it to plan A plus 5, so he has to be managing. Ok.

L13 Alright, here we go, here we go, we caught up to Charles. We're in his DRS. Take two, soft tyre, to arms!

L13 And now George comments on Oscar's pace: Piastri seems slow.

L14 Will: Your exit by sliding T8 is very good, keep it up.

L14 Charles snitches on Lando for track limits.

L15 Oh, this battle is so giving.

L16 Oh-ou, another track limit.

L19 Our front left is absolutely ready to say goodbye to this mortal coil.

L19 Will: Box to overtake Leclerc. Will!!! Lando is fighting Charles! They were close enough to touch! It only speaks to their skill there was no contact because it was. Very brave. Lando: Yeah, confirm, box to overtake.

Dudes... When was the last time it worked?

L20 Predictably, at pit entry, Will: Stay out, stay out!

Third track limit?! Be still, my heart.

L21 Oh, I'm stressed. I'm stressed. We get a white and black flag.

L21 Will calls in: I know you're busy. We just had our third strike, track limit, T13. We think you were pushed off but we had a black and white flag. Be careful. Do you know why Lando is busy? BECAUSE HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF GETTING PAST CHARLES!!! Will... 🤦 Lando: Ah! Yeah, I- I was pushed off, it's obvious. Will: I know. I know, I know, I know. Pushed off, *eye* don't know. Squeezed, for sure.

I repeat. Will says all this to Lando as Lando is overtaking Charles. We're P2.

L22 Will: Ok, mate. Let's see this pace. We're going for plan B at the moment. Will! What plan B?! With what pace?! The front left is standing in the queue to pay Charon for trip across the river Styx as we speak!

L22 11s to Max.

L22 Now Lewis is attacking Charles. Thank you, king.

L23 Sigh, when will I learn? Lando just did 1.39.9 on "dead" tyre. Max, who has been driving in clean air is doing 1.39.7.

L23 Charles just pitted and Martin says that McLaren has to pit Lando.

L23 Zak Brown on the mic.

L24 Will: How are the tyres, how's the pace? Lando: Yeah, like- That last lap was me, basically. He says this as he did 1.39.3. Uhuhuhhuh. Max did 1.39.5.

L24 Lando is so fast.

L27 Okay, so bad news is we're not catching Max but good news is we're matching his pace and Lando had to duel with Charles for that P2 while Max sailed away.

L28 Will: How are the tyres for you? Lando: They are fine. Are they?!

L29 They're pitching idea of going 27 laps on softs to Oscar but he has enough sense to argue against it.

L31 Oscar pits. He's been asked if - in regards to George behind him - he wants to pit first to soft tyre or does he want to allow George to let go and pass him on track. Oscar says go first, so that's what he does.

L32 Will: Hamilton has pitted. He's likely to be our trigger. Otherwise we'd go long unless we've got lots of lap time lost. But Hamilton might be our trigger. We're watching.

L32 Lando: Big lockup. No reaction from the pit wall. Lando: BOX! Will: Yeah, box this lap.

L33 With a hand on my throat, we manage 3.8s, softs, P4. This is not good but we saw worse, so I'll take it.

L33 Okay, ahead is George, yet to pit and Charles, over whom we have 10 lap tyre delta advantage. Let's see it, then!

L34 George pits. We're P3m 3s to Charles.

L35 Ollie has contact with Yuki and spins. The god's finger must have guided him because he doesn't even lose a position because of it, not to mention Yuki is still going.

L35 Obligatory complaining about moving under breaking. Nobody moved under braking!

L36 Lando is still being a benchmark for Max. Hello? Charles is behind you.

L36 Will: Lando, a question that we will ask you is, under SC, do you prefer softs or mediums. Next thing you know Will is going to be asking what walks on four legs in the morning.

L37 Lando is holding on for a dear life, trying to stay withing track while attacking Charles.

L37 Will: Lando, don't hate me, no track limits.

L38 We're in Charles' DRS.

L40 Lando: My tyres are gone.

L40 GP: Lando is complaining about tyres now. Hey!

L40 Some Oscar glazing about his F3 days.

L41 Basically, Will tells Lando to better gear up and strum that lyre and prepare to seduce Hades into giving them back. Well, not in those words, he says, to quote: Ok, mate, we understand. Still, a lot of laps to go. Let's do some management, bring the tyre temp down and then go again.

L41 Ted the Commentator is calling BS on Lando's complaining about tyres. What do you know about it?

L42 We get a slow mo of Lando's tyres. I would say, hm, not good.

L42 Charles: Is Norris cooling down tyres? Bryan, his RE: Yes.

L42 K43 Max also informed about Lando cooling his tyres. What is this gossip chain?

L44 Lando: Yeah, I'm just slow. I just don't have a grip when I'm closer. Will: Ok, mate. I understand, like, the car feels shit right now but the pace is really strong.

L46 Zak Brown on the mic again.

L48 We're coming back at Charles.

L49 We're in Charles' DRS.

L51 We got him. We got- Nope. Ah, so close.

L51 NEVER GIVE UP WE GOT HIM! P2!!!! Hold it, Lando!

L52 Out of Charles' DRS, that's right!

L52 Charles is not even going to try overtaking, just pushing for track limits.

L56 We're P2 and it feels like a miracle.

Everyone's tyres reside in Asphodel Meadows.

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