Lando Norris opens up about his mindset, self-doubt, and ambitions, insisting his honesty isn’t pessimism but a reflection of reality in F1.
Lando Norris explained that he is often pessimistic, but he doesn’t believe it’s excessive. The McLaren F1 driver frequently downplayed his chances of winning last year, but he insists he never did so while thinking the opposite.
“That was an important point for me,” Norris said. “It’s something I’ve struggled with in racing and in Formula 1. Every driver is different. Many drivers say, ‘I’m going to do it this year! I’m going to be the boss!’ Everyone has their own way of telling themselves things and communicating with the media.”
“I say what I believe. I say what I believe. Sometimes, it’s a big expectation, sometimes not, but it’s always the truth. If I think we won’t succeed, it’s because I’m sincere. It’s because I genuinely believe we won’t succeed.”
“It’s great when I prove myself wrong. When I say that and we have a good weekend? Wonderful. There are also times when I say, ‘we’ll be good this weekend,’ but we struggle.”
“I’m always honest. Throughout last year, I had good moments—not just after a strong race or a victory—but sometimes after a tough race where Max [Verstappen] got the better of me, and I told myself, ‘I can do it, I can beat him, I can fight at the front.’”
The Brit explains that as a child, he dreamed of battling against Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton: “I was always a kid who wanted to fight at the top in F1. I’ve always thought that way. When you’re in F1, you have to race against Lewis, Fernando, then Max. I always need to experience something to convince myself.”
“Last year, I got to experience winning races and fighting against guys where I thought, ‘I wonder how I’d measure up against them.’ I can’t answer something until I know. Maybe that’s not always the right mindset to have.”
“But that’s me! That’s the job I do! Some things aren’t great, others are, and that’s what makes me who I am. That’s what makes me very good in some areas. Last year, I told myself I could do it. I feel capable of competing with these guys, of being at the top, of fighting.”
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Honest and Hungry: Norris on Doubt, Belief, and Beating Max Honest and Hungry: Norris on Doubt, Belief, and Beating Max