– Lando Norris emphasizes that achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a Formula 1 world champion has not changed him as a person, although it has given him a sense of calm and confidence in the car.
Read more What lies behind Piastri’s current slump — and McLaren’s fascinating explanation
The McLaren driver reflects on his title success during an interview with Sky, which was filmed after he announced his contract extension with the Woking-based team until the end of 2030.
When asked how he thinks winning the championship has changed him, Norris replies: “It hasn’t, which is exactly what I want. I don’t want it to change me. I don’t want it to change who I am.”
“I think I can just walk around with the feeling that I have achieved something that very few people in the world get to achieve, and I know I have fulfilled my childhood dream,” Norris says.
“That’s something not many people get to achieve. So I know how lucky I am. I know how lucky I am to be at McLaren.” What winning the championship has changed for the 26-year-old is his attitude outside the car.
“There is an element that I know people have high expectations, and I have high expectations of myself, and that’s where it all starts,” he says about the pressure of the current championship season.
Read more Only cancellations for Manuel Gonzalez: His manager talks about the dilemma
Photo series: The world champions from the birth years of the current Formula 1 drivers
“But there is also the element that we had such a difficult start to the year. We had very, very bad luck with many things. We knew we would start with a deficit,” he emphasizes.
“[Fighting for the championship] certainly wasn’t the first thought we had. The fact that it has become a thought is a pretty great thing,” he says about McLaren’s recent progress.
“So I am very relaxed being in the position of the chaser. But every time I am on track, I don’t necessarily feel different because of that. Every time I put my helmet on, I still want to win.”
“I want to be today. I want to be on pole position. And that’s the same mentality I’ve always had,” he clarifies and explains: “It changes my attitude, especially when I am outside the car.”
- Moto2Only cancellations for Manuel Gonzalez: His manager talks about the dilemma
- DTMHRT shake-up: Is a major sponsor leaving for a DTM rival alongside engineers?
- MotoGPYamaha criticizes Fabio Quartararo’s lack of objectivity
- Formula 1Norris, Verstappen and Leclerc: Why top drivers no longer switch
“But I wouldn’t say it changes anything when I’m in the car, because when I’m in it, it’s always 100 percent. It’s always full throttle,” he emphasizes and adds: “I want to be number one, no matter what situation I’m in.”
Read more Norris, Verstappen and Leclerc: Why top drivers no longer switch
