By all means, Lando Norris enjoys his finest season yet in Formula 1. (Photo: Steven | McLaren Racing)
Overall, 21-year-old Lando Norris continually compiles consistent, strong results after 10 rounds in the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship.
By all means, the third-year McLaren Racing driver has the second best average finish (4.5) including three podiums. Presently, Norris celebrated among the podium finishers at Imola (third), Monaco (third) and Austria (third).
All things considered, Lando Norris reflected on his No. 4 McLaren Racing F1 Team’s incredible start.
Presently, Lando Norris looks like F1’s new “Mr. Consistency.” (Photo: Zac Mauger | McLaren Racing)
“It’s impressive,” Norris said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I guess it’s a reward and bonus of the work we’re putting in and the good results we’ve been having. But it’s all part of it. Obviously, a lot of it has continued from last season already. The best thing is, so far this season, everything’s gone very well. It’s gone to plan, better than planned a lot of the times. We’ll try to keep it up.”
Indeed, Norris and race engineer Will Joseph progressively extract the most out of their hardy drive. Moreover, the transition from the Renault to Mercedes powerplant appears rather seamless based on their impressive results.
Above all, Norris’ consistent form accounts for his third place points standings results. Notwithstanding an eighth at Barcelona, Norris racks up top five finishes in efficient fashion.
Sure, the focus may be on Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, especially after their lap 1 tussle in the British Grand Prix. However, Norris acknowledged his team’s steady form and their cracking results.
“I think we’re competitive anywhere at any racetrack,” Norris offered. “Some, [we] are just a little bit closer than other to Max [Verstappen], to the Red Bull guys, to Mercedes. I guess some we can be confident that we’re going to be able to maybe be around them in qualifying or have a chance in the race like in Red Bull Ring.
“But some tracks, we kind of know that they’re definitely going to be ahead. But it’s up and down. And sometimes, it’s always, they’re quicker than you think or you’re a little bit slower. So it’s never good to presume too many things. But we’ll keep working hard.”
In particular, Norris recalled how his MCL35M kept up with the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas at Silverstone.
Without delay, Lando Norris quietly but steadily grinds out strong results. (Photo: Mark Sutton | McLaren Racing)
“[At] Silverstone, we didn’t expect to be racing a Mercedes at all,” Norris said. “And I was ahead of him for the whole of the first stint until the pit stop. So, something is always a little bit of a surprise. And you can be better than you think. We’ll just keep working hard and try to do the same again this weekend.”
For the most part, Norris hopes for better results at the Hungaroring on Sunday (August 1 at 8 a.m. ET on ESPN). Namely, the amiable racer finished ninth and 12th in his previous two efforts at the 4.381 km (2.722 mi), 14-turn road course.
Given these points, Lando Norris possesses the qualities of a future F1 world champion. Ultimately, Norris acknowledged how it takes more than talent for sustainable success in motorsports’ most premier series.
In the long, Lando Norris understands how it takes more than talent for long term success. (Photo: Mark Sutton | McLaren Racing)
“Talent can get you very far through karting all the way to Formula 3, Formula 2, and even into Formula 1,” he said. “But when you’re competing against 19 of the best drivers in the world or your teammate for example, you need everything else.
“You can’t just rely on your talent because there’s a very high chance they’ve just not relied on their talent either. It can get you a long way. But if you want to be one of the best, the rest of it is all hard work.
