PARTY ANIMAL HATTON HAMMERED
Norris out to make name for himself
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LANDO NORRIS wants to create his own F1 legacy rather than follow Lewis Hamilton’s path to superstardom.
Fresh from an impressive rookie campaign, the 20-year-old is well aware of how the champion’s second season with Mclaren went 12 years ago.
Hamilton bounced back from heartbreak in 2007, when he missed out on a first world title by just one point, to pull off a remarkable triumph on the final day of the following season.
No other British driver has been able to replicate his exploits and the 35-year-old, who quit Mclaren for Mercedes seven seasons ago, has clinched five more titles since.
But as Norris geared up for this weekend’s season-opener in Melbourne, he insisted he doesn’t take any notice of the comparisons with his rival.
The Mclaren driver said: “I don’t because I know how much of a different situation I am in compared to when Lewis was in a Mclaren.
“They had a championship-winning car in their first season. He did a lot more testing coming into F1 because you could do a lot more back then.
“The cars are much harder to drive now. I remember the first pre-season test with these new cars and Lewis saying these are the hardest cars he has ever driven.
“For someone new to come in, in a more difficult time than ever before and against some of the best drivers ever, makes it very difficult. I don’t
TYRRELL HATTON revealed the drunken celebrations after his first PGA Tour win left him cuddling the toilet. The Englishman admitted he was still shattered ahead of teeing up at the Players Championship at Sawgrass today.
The Ryder Cup star held himself together with seven closing pars to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by a single shot. Then the 28-yearold enjoyed himself at his victory party. He said: “I am still quite tired. There was a lot
■ (right) think there is much comparison. The only comparison is that we’re British drivers who both joined Mclaren. Everything else is too different.”
After clinching that historic maiden world title, Hamilton went five years without adding another.
But his switch to Mercedes proved to be a shrewd career decision as the Silver Arrows have dominated the sport since the turbo-hybrid engines were introduced in 2014.
And Norris admits he’ll need similar good fortune if he is to become world champion.
“You have to be lucky,” he added. “It’s not always down to the driver, you do need a good car to win the championreact
NEIL MCLEMAN
of red wine. Unfortunately I think the finisher was drinking vodka and tequila out of the bottle, which never ends well.
“I felt a victim of that definitely. I was cuddling the toilet by five in the morning, so it was a good night.”
Hatton has gone north from Orlando to Jacksonville in Florida and has continued to be inundated with congratulations from his fellow pros.
But he is not sure if his Ryder Cup captain Padraig ship. Lewis always placed himself well, with Mclaren and then Mercedes.
“Other drivers are just unlucky and do the opposite. As much as I would love to, it doesn’t mean I’m going to be able to do the same as someone else. Formula 1 just isn’t like that.”
Norris is also intent on living his own life away from the track and spent the winter at home with his family.
He recently moved from Guildford to be just a three-minute commute from Mclaren’s Woking HQ.
“I like it here,” he said. “I prefer fun and enjoyment, and that overrides the tax saving of going to Monaco. It’s as simple as that.
“I love being close to Mclaren.”
Harrington has tried to get in touch.
“I have still got 100 Whatsapp messages unopened, so I don’t know exactly who has messaged,” he said.
“Obviously I would like to be in the Ryder Cup team in September.
“I have had a good start to the points race, which is nice, and hopefully I can keep pushing on this year and make the team.”
Justin Rose arrives at Sawgrass looking for form after missing three out of four cuts on the PGA Tour this season. “I have always known I am a round away,” he said.
“On the surface, confidence isn’t there but the deep belief is there. That is the most important thing.
“I am certainly hungry. Sometimes when you don’t play well for a period of time it kicks you into gear. I am working hard.
“I am working hard and sometimes there is delayed gratification on that. Maybe it is not a year when I am consistently brilliant but I feel like the high-water marks can still be amazing.”