Lando Norris is at the center of many criticisms, which sometimes accuse him of being too soft behind the wheel, sometimes too insistent, sometimes too sure of himself, sometimes lacking confidence. The McLaren F1 driver is skeptical to see so much negativity, and especially when it touches his humility.
“I find it a bit weird, because I’ve read all these things” Norris said. “For some things, I don't understand how people could have that perception. And that's where I always come back to people who know me, who know that that's not the case.”
“When people think my ego is too big or something like that, that couldn't be further from the truth, especially when I'm racing. Maybe sometimes I choose the wrong words or something like that, and people use that against me.”
Norris admits to having changed since his beginnings, but does not understand that people are looking for an alternative truth: “I think there are more and more people in the world who don't want to listen to the truth, and sometimes when I tell the truth or facts, people don't want to agree, or want to prove that I'm wrong.”
“I find it strange because I feel like I haven't changed. Maybe I've changed in some ways… Certainly some things have changed. I don't make as many jokes and jokes anymore. fun stuff than before, and I think people liked it and maybe don't like me as much now that I don't do it.”
The Brit admits that he struggles to understand the outpouring of criticism against him: “I have always been honest when I have done a good or bad job. When I know I have done something wrong, or someone tells me I have done something wrong, I I still accept it and I recognize it in the right way.”
“But when I know for a fact that I didn't do something and people make something out of it or turn it into something I did, there's something I don't understand, especially how much of negative things I receive today – I almost want to say for no reason.”
“It leaves me a little perplexed. I have nothing against people having different opinions, but saying the wrong things is probably the thing I don't understand, and probably the thing that annoys me the most. “
“But it doesn't affect my daily life in any way. I'm very happy with the people around me, in my group. They're the ones who are the most honest with me, who tell me when I'm doing well or when I'm not. not well, or whether I'm an idiot or not.”
Norris is ready to contend for the championship in 2025, and he believes this will be his first season as a title contender: “It's very clear. As a team we know that next year will be the year – probably the first since I've been in Formula 1 – where I can say 'we are fighting for the title '.”
“I'm very happy that I stayed with the team that I believed in, even though a lot of people didn't believe in it. And that all of this came true, even though it was sometimes hard to believe, that we could take two steps forward, then back, then catch up, then let it settle.”
“There were times when I questioned myself about what was best for my future and what I wanted to do. The fact that we managed to beat Red Bull, when there was no Not even 12 months in, they were having the most dominant season, is an incredible achievement.”
“I am happy that I went through the most difficult times, when I could have chosen an easier path, going to other teams. The team understands that too, the path we have traveled together, and I I think she likes it, which probably makes me the happiest out of all of this.”
