Lando Norris has gained confidence as the 2024 Formula 1 season progresses, despite a few race errors. The McLaren F1 driver believes he has learned lessons from these mistakes, and he is satisfied to be able to take a positive look at the past year, particularly on what he learned and the self-confidence he acquired .
“Honestly, it’s probably in the most difficult times that you learn the most” assure Norris. “The more difficult moments were my battles with Max, some other cases throughout the season. I think back to Austria, to Silverstone. There are different reasons for that.”
“But none of them made me doubt myself. This season was my best season from a performance point of view, as well as from a personal point of view. Was it enough? Probably not, no. “
“But when you look at my own performances in qualifying, for example, they were almost twice as good as last year, especially when compared to the other guys who have exactly the same car.
“So I’ve progressed at a good level this season. It’s obvious that I’ve lost things. There were maybe three starts this year that made me lose one or two positions. often acted in positions to benefit Max or it was Budapest and a place for Oscar.”
A “turning point” in Mexico against Verstappen
The winner of four races this year also recalls that among the races he lost, there were battles against Max Verstappen which were not always fair. But he is pleased that people in Mexico saw that the Dutchman was really capable of going beyond the limits.
“But none of them, when I look back, made me feel like I didn’t have what it took. Those moments only happened when it was directly against Max. And that’s Max. Racing Max in any state is always going to be tricky. And no one has fun racing Max.”
“I think Mexico was a turning point when it was proven that not everything they do is perfect. I think if we go back to Austin and turn 12, the majority of people, almost all of Everyone on the grid, both the drivers and the people outside, did not agree with the fact that I received a penalty.
“Either we shouldn’t have had one or we should have both had one. It’s about small things but certainly, from a rhythm point of view, I didn’t doubt me this year. And I think I definitely gave myself more confidence.”
Qualifying was an area where the British driver believes he has improved enormously. Customary of small errors last year, he made up for it to avoid making any more, as evidenced by his eight pole positions.
“When I look at qualifying, I remember that 12 months ago I wasted my third qualifying round, a round that should have put me second, but in which I had a big slide. And I He was pretty pissed at me after qualifying and that’s what everyone was talking about at the time.
“Too many points lost” at the start of the year
Norris also notes that he sometimes had to give in to Verstappen’s intimidation, to be the one to avoid accidents: “But that didn’t really happen this year. I completed my qualifying rounds. I improved in all those areas.”
“And it was more than a neck and neck fight with one of the best drivers in the world. What you don’t see from the outside are those moments where, if I had done certain things, we would have had an accident. People on the outside have no idea what to do and those moments when you accept losing a battle.
He also deplores McLaren’s disappointing start to the season: “And that’s because of our situation in the first six or seven races of the year. We lost too many points. I was in a position where I couldn’t win as much as I wanted and I I needed it.”
“But I’m not using any of that as an excuse. I’m saying I didn’t have what it took this season to fight against Max and do what I needed to do. But it made me certainly given the feeling that if I improve a little here, a little there, for the first time, I can confidently say that I have what it takes.”
