McLaren’s Lando Norris is preparing for his fourth full Formula 1 season, saying the experience battling Ferrari in 2021 put him in a prime position to fight at the top of the peloton in 2022.
Norris finished an excellent sixth overall in the 2021 Drivers ‘Championship with 160 points – more than he achieved in his first two seasons combined – although efforts were insufficient to prevent Ferrari from taking 3rd place in the Constructors’ Championship.
But after the season in Abu Dhabi, the 22-year-old – who has taken four podiums throughout the season, taken his first F1 pole position and narrowly missed his first win at the Russian Grand Prix – was asked how much he was missing had learned the fight with Ferrari and whether 2021 was his best season so far.
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“It was definitely my best season so far, which is always good when I’m only in my third season,” he said.
“I think I achieved a lot, did a good job for the team and was there for the team when we got the chance to be on the podium, get the points and bring this fight to Ferrari for as long as possible … I think from my side and for us as a team it was a very good year and we should be satisfied with what we have achieved.
“I would say it helped a lot,” he added about the season with Ferrari. “Just to be with this mentality that they keep us busy, push us and try to find [the] smallest lap time.
VISOR CAM: Leclerc goes three with Sainz and Norris at the start of the race in Abu Dhabi
“It was definitely good for us, probably for her too, as it wasn’t an easy year for her; I think it helped both of us. But I would definitely say it was a tough season. I still think we had a much better season than [2020], we’re closer to the frontline and the rest of the world [the midfield the gap] is also much bigger. “
The Brit explained that the constant challenge Ferrari posed last season also kept him and McLaren from getting “complacent” as they – along with the Scuderia – resurrected with a new attack in the new cars for 2022 want to return to winning ways.
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“I think it’s sometimes easy to get complacent and distract yourself from it, especially when you’re driving alone – if you’re only the third fastest car and no one is in front or behind you, there are definitely ways to fall into that trap.” continued Norris.
“It was still a very good season, I think not only in terms of results and points, but also how we worked together as a team, how we maximized things.”
McLaren will seek to bridge the gap with Red Bull and Mercedes in 2022 while also remaining suspicious of Ferrari, which announced their own improvements ahead of the new season.
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