LANDO HOPE & GLORY
Norris sure he has drive to thrive in the future
LANDO NORRIS is convinced he can win more races this season before challenging for the ultimate prize next year.
The 24-year-old Brit claimed his first Formula One victory at the Miami Grand Prix last weekend.
He capitalised on a safety-car period before pulling away from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to pick up his first win in his 110th grand prix.
It was McLaren’s first victory in almost three years and was a further marker of the improvement at the Woking-based team.
Norris sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, 53 points adrift of three-time world champion Verstappen – while third-placed McLaren trail the dominant Red Bull by 115 points in the constructors’ battle.
When asked if they can contend for the title next season, Norris replied: “100 per cent. I am saying that still with my feet on the ground. “I want to believe we have two great drivers. We have an amazing team behind us and we are closer than ever.
“As much as I said at the beginning of this year we can win races, I should have the confidence to say next year we can go for the next step.”
Norris, who extended his stay in Miami to toast his first win, was back at the McLaren Technology Centre yesterday to share the success with the wider team.
He admits they remain short of Red Bull and Ferrari but is confident of more success this season. “We still have work to do, we are not at the level they are just yet,” Norris added.
“On average we are not quite where we want to be.
“As soon as they’ve all had a little drink this morning I’m going to tell them to get back to work so we can keep fighting even more! “If there is any race I want to have the same speed it is at Silverstone. We can win races this year, we can compete against Red Bull and we are looking at an exciting season between us, Red Bull and Ferrari.”
Norris partied with Verstappen in Miami after the McLaren man’s win and the pair have a good relationship off the track.
But he admits things could change if he continues to fight against the threetime world champion for wins.
“I’m sure it will, not in a bad way,” said Norris.
“We have respect for one another, we get along. We’re not best friends. We don’t text each other every day, that kind of thing.
“But we just have a lot of respect from him to me and me back to him. So I look forward to it.
“I want to challenge him because I think he’s one of the best drivers ever in Formula One.
“So if I can prove myself against him, I’m proving myself against one of the best, and that’s exactly what I want to do.”