Norris Mexico GP booing triggered by Verstappen and McLaren?
Lando Norris may have dominated the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, but the reception he received from the grandstands was far from welcome.
Despite taking pole position and converting it into a commanding victory to regain the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, the McLaren driver was loudly booed during his post-race interview and again when collecting his trophy on the podium.
While race-winners are occasionally met with jeers from rivalling crowds, the intensity of the booing in Mexico was striking since there is no known personal conflict between Norris and Mexican fans.
Is Verstappen Behind the Mexico GP Booing?
A possible factor lies in Mexico’s strong admiration for Max Verstappen, and the good relationship he and home hero Sergio Perez continue to maintain, despite the Mexican driver's departure from Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season.
However, up until then the driver duo had been embraced by Mexican fans, dubbing the pairing 'Chestappen'. The high regard to which Verstappen is held by the North American nation's fans was made evident when, after finishing P3, the Red Bull Racing driver was treated to the loudest ovation of the weekend.
For local fans, supporting Verstappen’s 2025 title challenge could be seen as a way to indirectly support Perez’s legacy within Red Bull. This national connection may have contributed to the emotional response toward Norris.
It is also worth noting that Norris’ past remarks have occasionally caused friction with Pérez’s supporters.
In 2024, for instance, the Brit commented that Verstappen did not have a teammate who could challenge him, a statement interpreted by some as dismissive of Pérez’s competitiveness. Though likely not the central reason, it may have added to the tension.
Piastri, Mexican media and fan polls
The discussion was further amplified by Mexican outlet Fast Mag, which conducted a poll following the Monza incident, where McLaren enforced papaya rules to alter the order between Piastri and Norris after the British driver was overtaken following a botched pit stop.
The poll asked fans for their input regarding the incident: “What should Lando do?” The leading response among voters was that Norris should “return the three points” gained from the team order.
During the Mexico City press conference, a representative of the magazine suggested this perception of “team favouritism” had influenced the crowd’s reaction. He described how some fans believe McLaren’s decisions have effectively “handed the championship” to Norris.
Norris Reacts to Mexico GP Booing
After the race, Norris appeared surprised by the reaction. During his post-race interview, he briefly stopped speaking as fans booed before telling interviewer James Hinchcliffe he would “ignore all of this.”
Later in the press conference, he addressed the situation with humour rather than frustration. “People can do what they want,” he said. “That’s sport sometimes. I don’t know why, but I can’t stop laughing when I get booed, it makes it more entertaining for me. Of course, I’d rather have people cheering, but it’s fine if they don’t.”
When asked about the perception that McLaren was favouring him over Piastri, Norris responded: “If people want to think that, they have the right to. From our side, we always try to do things fairly.”
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