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Regardless of the outcome of the world championship battle, the Formula 1 season has already been a success for McLaren and Lando Norris. At the beginning of the season, the British contender for Max Verstappen assumed that the reigning champion and Red Bull would easily defend their titles. However, Norris believes that making the season competitive, despite being the fourth team on the grid, brings a sense of pride. “Regardless of how the championship ends, I take pride in what we’ve achieved this season,” Norris commented.
On Thursday, the McLaren driver attended the FIA press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin. With six races left in the season, plus three sprint races, Norris is currently trailing Verstappen by 52 points. It could have been a 51-point gap if Daniel Ricciardo hadn’t stolen away a championship point with the fastest lap during the last race before the break in Singapore.
Ricciardo’s Championship Point
Norris expressed no mixed emotions about Ricciardo, a driver from Red Bull’s sister team, taking away a championship point in Singapore. “If I end up missing the world title by one point at the end, it won’t be down to that. There are many other moments where we could have done better. For Daniel, that was a sentimental way to bid farewell to F1, especially since it was for his last point,” Norris explained. Following the Singapore race, Ricciardo was informed he would have to make way for Liam Lawson, who is set to return to F1 in Austin.
Earlier, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella raised concerns regarding the proceedings in Singapore. However, Norris sends a subtle message to Red Bull and Visa RB in Austin. “Again, I hold no grudges against Daniel; it was his final race after all. If circumstances had been different, I might have had questions. If this happens more frequently in the remaining races, we will definitely start asking questions, but I don’t expect that,” he added.
FIA’s Decision on Fastest Lap Bonus
Furthermore, Norris expressed disappointment regarding the FIA’s decision to abolish the bonus point for the fastest lap starting next season. “I enjoyed the current system as it encourages drivers to push for something extra in a race, but it is what it is,” he remarked.
Lastly, Lando Norris is confident that he can make significant contributions to the championship standings in Austin. Last year, he finished second in the US Grand Prix, trailing .comy Max Verstappen.
Norris stated, “This track suits us better than Singapore did last year. Considering our performance over the last five or six races, particularly our recent win in Singapore, I’m optimistic we will deliver strong results here as well. Yes, I believe we can close the gap in the championship, but it won’t come easy. Even if I win every race and Max finishes second, it’ll still be a challenge. I’ve experienced mixed feelings about my results in the last few months for various reasons, but I’m pleased with our team’s performance as we focus on our own strengths.”
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