Formula 1 - Norris: Between loneliness and hunger for victory
A win is not enough for Lando Norris yet. "I am deeply convinced that we can win more races without sounding arrogant," said the Brit in Spielberg. The 24-year-old has risen to become the first challenger to Formula-1 World Champion Max Verstappen at McLaren and seems capable of causing significant problems for the Red Bull star on the way to his fourth title. "I race with the best, but I want to be the best," said the second-place finisher before the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday (3:05 p.m./Sky) confidently.
Norris is not a cliché speaker. He is a perfectionist who sat in a kart when he was seven, quickly went from win to win, and sacrificed a lot for it. He didn't have a real childhood, the racing driver from Bristol told the English "Telegraph" this week. "My life has always been racing." Friendships came and went prematurely because he traveled a lot as a student. "I was so skinny as a child and had no self-confidence," he said. At first, even the successes didn't change that - and he still says today: "Formula-1 racing can be lonely."
A driver like Michael Schumacher
He doesn't want to understand criticisms looking back, and he wouldn't change much about the way that led him to his first win in the Motorsport King's Class in Miami in May. "I've dreamed of this since I was a child," he said. "I'm definitely not perfect and have things I need to work on, but I'm still hungrier to win and I'm still disappointed when I don't," he emphasized.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella sees Norris as a man who can stand on a level with Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, or Fernando Alonso. He worked with all of them in the past. "Lando is definitely here," Stella said and calls his driver "World Championship material." With around 20 million pounds (23.6 million Euros) a year, Norris is reportedly paid by McLaren according to "Telegraph." Trending upward.
Is Norris the new Hamilton?
It's not just about driving ability, but about the overall package. Norris is the star of a new generation of Formula-1 fans. Many of them discovered motorsport through the Netflix series "Drive to Survive," Norris drew them in with Twitch streams or on other social media channels. 8.6 million people follow him alone on Instagram and see a young man who developed a great passion for photography, was named player of the Champions League final, and celebrated his successes with childlike joy.
McLaren signed Norris early, he has been racing in Formula 1 since 2019. Much reminds one of the career of Lewis Hamilton, who followed a similar path in young years at the British racing team. But can Norris be a new Hamilton? Many experts believe he has the potential to be a world champion, not just within his own team. Without a doubt, Norris is a completely different character than the eccentric Hamilton, who holds the record of seven titles. Mercedes star Hamilton comes from humble backgrounds, Norris' father made millions as the founder of a British investment firm.
Traveling on Verstappen's private jet [
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Lando Norris himself emphasizes that he bought his seat in Formula 1 not with his father's money, contrary to some assumptions. It would be wrong to see him only as a profiteer of a wealthy family, although financially it would have been easier for him than many competitors. He has built his own brand even as a young racing driver, having one of the first social media teams and marketing his own clothing collections.
At just 20 years old, he first sat in a Formula 1 cockpit, with Verstappen also present. They are good friends, flying back to Monaco together in Verstappen's private jet after races. Norris openly admits that he also lives there due to tax advantages and not just because of the good weather at the Mediterranean. Verstappen's achievements (three World Championship titles, 61 wins) are far from Norris, and Verstappen is also two years older. Before the 11th of 24 races in the season, Verstappen leads the World Championship standings by 69 points.
McLaren overtakes the competition
"I have only won one race. Winning a race is great, but it's also relatively small compared to what we can still achieve," Norris said. In Barcelona, a small mistake at the start cost him a potential second win, but it should go better in Austria. "We are racing against one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history and one of the best teams," Norris said. McLaren has improved more than anyone else in the past year and has the best car. "It sometimes looks faster than it is," Norris added. "I didn't beat him in Barcelona, so we as a team need to do a better job."
- Lando Norris' victories in Formula 1 are not enough for him, believing that McLaren Group Limited can win more races without sounding arrogant.
- Norris, a Formula 1 driver for McLaren, has been compared to Michael Schumacher by team boss Andrea Stella due to his world-championship potential.
- Born and raised in Bristol, Norris started racing at a young age, sacrificing his childhood for his passion for motorsport.
- The second-place finisher in the Austrian Grand Prix, Norris expressed his ambition to be the best in the sport, racing alongside the best in Formula 1.
- Sky Sports broadcasted the Austrian Grand Prix, where Norris and Max Verstappen, a Red Bull driver, showcased their skills.
- Formula 1 drivers occasionally face loneliness as they strive for success in the international motorsport, including Norris and seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher.
- Norris made a name for himself in young years at McLaren, similar to Lewis Hamilton's career progression at the British racing team.
- Verstappen, a Formula 1 driver for Red Bull, and Norris developed a friendly relationship, with Verstappen even lending his private jet to Norris for travel.
- Norris acknowledged that he built his own brand as a young racing driver, including having a marketing team and creating clothing collections.
- During the 11th race of the season, Verstappen led the World Championship standings by 69 points, with Norris and McLaren overtaking the competition and boasting the best car in the sport.
