Norris not expecting to emulate Hamilton

Lando Norris does not expect to make the same kind of splash in Formula 1 at McLaren as Lewis Hamilton did as the team continue to search for on-track performance. Few F1 rookies have entered the sport with the same hype as Norris will in 2019 since Hamilton made his bow in 2007.

After an impressive junior stint, Hamilton began his F1 career with nine consecutive podium finishes and missed out on the title by a solitary point at the end of the season, winning his first of four crowns the following year.

Norris has a similarly glittering career in lower categories – he remains a Formula 2 challenger in 2018 – but there is little sign of him following Hamilton's immediate footsteps as McLaren have not taken to the podium since 2014.

Norris said: "Growing up I've watched Lewis and aspired to have some of his attributes, mainly his speed.

"His raw pace is probably the best of everyone on the whole grid, so there are bits you want from different drivers.

"Being compared to someone who could be about to win five World Championships, I don't think it's a bad thing as long as you're getting compared on the good stats, not the bad stats.

"It's still very different. He came into McLaren when they were doing extremely well. I've joined when they are going through a pretty tricky time. Things over the past few years have got a bit lost.

"I think the opportunity of driving next year, as well as Carlos [Sainz], is a fresh start and what the team needs to get back to where they need to be."

Norris has been tipped to follow in Hamilton's championship-winning success, but the teenager is not expecting to challenge immediately.

"Rule number one is: Beat your team-mate. Apart from that, it is going to be a tough year," he said.

"We are not going to be winning, or competing against Ferrari and Mercedes. I would like to think we can make a step forward from where we are.

"They need two young drivers willing to say: 'We don't need to win; we don't want to win within the first two years of joining the team.'

"That is a realistic goal. We are not going to be winning next year or probably the year after. It will probably be a few years."