Lando Norris reacts to boos from fans at Mexico City Grand Prix after taking lead in F1's title race

Lando Norris delivered a defiant response to being booed after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix, insisting he cannot stop laughing at his critics after a weekend of dominance.

The McLaren driver followed a sensational pole lap in Saturday's Qualifying with an emphatic race victory on Sunday to leapfrog Oscar Piastri and return to the top of the Drivers' Championship standings with four races remaining.

During his post-race interview, Norris awkwardly stopped speaking as thousands of fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez jeered him, prompting him to tell interviewer James Hinchcliffe that he was going to "ignore all of this".

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• F1 championship standings
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He was then booed for a second time as he appeared on the podium to collect his trophy and later explained in his press conference that he did not understand the fan reaction.

However, he brushed off the criticism and said it was entertaining to laugh back at them.

"People can do what they want, honestly," he said.

"They have the right to do it if they want to do it. I think that's sport sometimes.

"I don't know why I can't stop laughing when I get booed. I think it makes it more entertaining for me. So yeah, they can keep doing it if they want.

"Of course, you don't want it. I prefer to have people cheer for me. It was the same in Monza and a few other places.

"I don't know why, I just can't stop laughing, so if they want to continue they can."

It was suggested by one journalist that there is a perception in Mexico that he is being favoured by McLaren over Piastri, citing the now infamous decision to swap cars in Monza after a slow pit stop.

"If they want to think that, then they certainly have the right to," Norris responded.

"They can think whatever they want. I guess from us as a team, of course, we try and do things fairly."

Why was Norris being booed? Lingering anger over Monza swap?

The negative reaction of the crowd clearly came as a surprise to Norris and to the Sky Sports commentary team with the paddock left to speculate as to why the fans were so vociferous.

Race winners - especially those that win as comfortably as Norris did 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, other than some comments made in Qatar last year about Sergio Perez. The Brit suggested Max Verstappen did not have a team-mate "who could challenge him in any way", which could be perceived as a direct criticism of the former Red Bull driver.

But the main gripe of the Mexican fans appears to be much more recent. In the post-race press conference, the journalist Carlos Jalife from the Mexican motor racing magazine Fast Mag attempted to explain the issue.

He argued that Norris is being "given the championship" by McLaren, whose 'Papaya Rules' approach saw the team ask Piastri to move aside and give Norris a place back after a slow pit stop at the Italian Grand Prix; a decision which led to some boos on the day.

Fast Mag even ran a poll asking 'What should Lando do?' and the most popular response was 'return the three points'.

Norris insisted again on Sunday that he deserved to be ahead at Monza, as the initial pit stop strategy had been altered to help his team-mate, but it appears the Mexico City fans hold a different view.

Norris 'should be applauded'

The Sky Sports F1 experts were baffled by the crowd reaction, particularly as it came on a day when Norris delivered one of his career-best drives.

Jamie Chadwick suggested that a dominant victory might not offer the entertainment that some fans would like, but insisted it should be respected.

"I hate it. I hate booing for anyone," she said.

"Cheer louder for the person you want to support, but don't boo anyone.

"What Lando did today doesn't deserve any boos. He put on a masterclass.

"Okay, he was off in the distance so it wasn't the most exciting race for everyone to watch, but that needs to be applauded, not booed."

Karun Chandhok echoed those comments, saying: "I hate booing. Whenever it happens, I hate it.

"When people booed Max Verstappen at certain races, it's just wrong.

"Lando did an outstanding job and that should be applauded."

Norris plays down title race momentum

The fan reaction was the only blemish on a hugely successful weekend for Norris, who is one point ahead of Piastri and 36 points clear of Verstappen ahead of next month's Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris had trailed his team-mate by 34 points earlier this season, but insists the momentum shift is not significant as the title race enters the home stretch.

"I'm not a believer in momentum in some ways," he told Sky Sports F1.

"One great weekend really doesn't mean anything. Two, three or four in a row means something.

"I'm fighting the best guys in the world who can turn it around any time. So there's no point thinking I'm feeling amazing and the others aren't, or whatever.

"I just focus on myself, focus on my own job. That's all I can do."

Formula 1's thrilling title race continues in Brazil with a Sprint weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on November 7-9, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Lando Norris reacts to boos from fans at Mexico City Grand Prix after taking lead in F1's title race