Lando Norris is refreshing straightforward and surprisingly frank when discussing his approach to racing.
He had much to be proud of his first full season of Formula 1 at McLaren. But the F3 champion and F2 runner-up admitted feeling apprehensive about his debut and not knowing “if I was going to be good enough” compared to team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr.“I didn’t know if I was going to be quick enough going up against a driver who’s done four years in Formula 1, in McLaren – just in Formula 1 against so many good drivers,” said Norris. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do a good enough job every time.
“So I just didn’t believe in myself much. But already even after Australia and then Bahrain and I already gained a lot of confidence from that.”
Having reached Q3 on his debut in Australia and placed sixth at the chequered flag in Bahrain, Norris impressed from the off. Indeed, it was something of a surprise he didn’t better that sixth place before the season ended, though with better luck he would have done.
Qualifying: Lap time
The lower the lines, the better the driver performed
He tied 10-10 with Sainz over the course of the season, a fine effort for a rookie. But being Norris, he would only concede a modicum of satisfaction at the outcome.
“It’s a nice thing,” he admitted. “But at the end of the day, he’s beat me in the championship in the drivers and that’s what matters a lot more than just out-qualifying a guy.
“So qualifying I can be happy with. In the races I need to take a step forward going into next year.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Race: Start versus finish
While Sainz often managed to hold or improve his position in the races, Norris’s pattern wasn’t quite as favourable. This was only partly due to his various misfortunes, the most notable of which was the power unit problem on the penultimate lap at Spa which cost him a potential season-best finish of fifth.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Race: Share of points
Race: Results versus other drivers
“I already did it better this race and I’m very happy with how I did this race. I didn’t always rely on the engineers telling me something. I was already making my own changes.
“It’s just experience of knowing when to push, when not to push, when to save tyres. Charging the battery, using the battery in the right areas – it’s just a bit of experience.
“I don’t like blaming it on experience, but I think a little bit of experience and I’ll come back next year – I want to be confident saying that I’ll come back next year and be better with this. I would have reviewed this race, reviewed probably every race of the season by next year and throughout the winter, and come back a stronger guy.”
Go ad-free for just £1 per month
>> Find out more and sign up
Race: Reasons for retirements
| Race | Retirement |
|---|---|
| Spain | Accident (Stroll) |
| Canada | Brakes |
| Germany | Power unit |
| Mexico | Withdrew |
2019 F1 season
- McLaren Racing reports reduced £71 million loss in 2019
- Kvyat: Hockenheim podium last year was “my biggest achievement” so far
- How the FIA’s new encrypted fuel flow meter targets Ferrari’s suspected ‘aliasing’ trick
- “He smashed my office door”: 23 must-see moments from ‘Drive to Survive’ season two
- ‘I should have done a better job. There’s things that I know I can do better’
Only Facts!
8th February 2020, 11:31
Norris is the face of new F1: very young, still untainted by politics, open hearted, somewhat funny.
Reminds me a little of Ricciardo and Massa in the first years. But when old F1 starts penetrating their skin they seem to loose the smile.
We’ve all seen that change of mood that lasts until they leave F1. Senna when he was DQ in Japan 1989. Alonso when he had his years pulled in public by Ferrari for saying he wanted a RBR as birthday gift. Vettel when he received the cold shoulder from Marko in 2014. Barrichello when he was told to let Schumacher pass or he would loose the seat.
Hope the McLaren duo can keep their smile for long. Isn’t that supposed to be the new F1?
Chaitanya
8th February 2020, 11:48
In case of Rubens he revealed years later that he was concerned about safety of his family and had to let Cheat pass through for win.
Apart from Ron Dennis leaving McLaren and the Honda debacle, that team has humbled a lot and is treating its drivers much better than it might have done few years back. Hopefully this new McLaren will continue their work back to front of field.
Charles
8th February 2020, 20:00
‘cheat’?
Schumacher would have beaten Barrichello on any day of the week, ‘cheats’, fixes, Benetton traction control, anything, the guy was one of the top two drivers.
Senna then Schumacher, the rest of them are no where in comparison.
JMDan (@danmar)
9th February 2020, 20:05
“But after Australia and Bahrain and I gained a lot of confidence” Did he utter these exact words? Because that’s lousy sentence structure. :)