Lando Norris confident form proves F1 title credentials

Lando Norris celebrates on the Imola podium — Photo: © LAT Images

McLaren

Norris confident form proves F1 title credentials

Norris sits fourth in the standings this season

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Saturday 15 May 2021 16:34

Lando Norris believes his early-season form for McLaren has been good enough to prove he will one day become an F1 champion.

The British driver sits fourth in the standings just six points adrift of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas after finishing fifth, third, fourth and eighth in the opening four rounds of the season.

Asked if he felt he could be a champion given the opportunity, Norris replied: “I want to say yes but it doesn’t mean I’m just better than every driver on the grid or anything like that. I’m not saying that.

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"I just feel like with how I have done this season I am driving at a level that is capable of winning races and maybe one day a world championship.

“Maybe I’m not at the all-out level, but I feel I am doing a lot of things right and with some small improvements I can be a bit more confident in my answer.

"I’m at a level where I would say I could go up against Lewis or Max and - I’ve got to be careful how I say it, not say I could 100 per cent beat them - but I could give them a run for their money and I could give it a good effort."

Norris suggested he needs to continue to build his confidence after such a bright start to the campaign.

“It’s very difficult to know until you’re there and I’m not so much a guy who thinks that far ahead into the future," he added.

"I haven’t always been the most complimentary guy to myself, giving myself the respect I feel I should get sometimes.

"I always put myself down a lot and am harsh on myself but I think that sometimes I feel I should be the opposite and give myself confidence.

"With how I feel I have done so far this season, I feel if I was in a car capable of winning races, I feel like I could.

“Whether it’s in the wet conditions, the dry conditions, I feel I am driving at the moment in a very good manner.

"I feel I am on top of my game, doing a lot of things right and doing myself proud in a lot of ways."