Lando Norris is attempting to alleviate the increasing expectations to accumulate grand prix victories.
With McLaren currently showing field-leading performance, the 24-year-old Norris has consistently outperformed his promising younger teammate, Oscar Piastri, this season.
Although Norris achieved his initial win in Miami, he has frequently been in the fastest car since then but hasn't managed a second win.
As Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix approaches, some pundits have opined that perhaps Norris is 'too nice' to clinch wins and titles. "I can be a lot more of a d*ck and act like an idiot and have that persona and make people think that," Norris stated to journalists on Thursday, "but I don't need to and I don't want to."
"When I put the helmet on, I don't hear what people say."
On Saturday, Norris secured pole position - his third - at the Hungaroring, but memories of a missed victory at his home British GP with McLaren still linger.
"Some rumours are starting to emerge from the owners of the McLaren Group from the Middle East, questioning why there has only been one victory," former Red Bull racer Robert Doornbos mentioned on Ziggo Sport on Saturday.
"They've definitely had more chances than that."
Is this Sunday critical for Norris to win?
"I mean, I don't think so," he responded. "Every quali is important. Every race is important. So it's not like I suddenly need to do it and prove something."
"I know we've missed some opportunities, but we don't need to dwell on that."
McLaren's team boss Andrea Stella seems focused on reducing the pressure on both the team and Norris.
"Max Verstappen is still the driver to beat," he revealed to DAZN post-qualifying on Saturday. "He has dominated F1 in recent years and now we are positioned well to challenge him."
"We have two drivers ahead of Max now so we can play strategically with him, but there are also two Ferraris and a Mercedes behind us and the dynamics can shift significantly," Stella elaborated.
Regarding recent missed chances for both McLaren and Norris, he remarked, "We could have done things better, but focusing on McLaren's errors is not the correct perspective. The achievements are incredible and if we miss an opportunity it is a moment to learn," Stella added.
