Experience the secret of Norris’ F1 form

Lando Norris

A combination of experience and realizing his potential is believed to be the reason Lando Norris has made progress this season.

The 21-year-old McLaren driver made a strong start to the 2021 Formula 1 season, leading Daniel Ricciardo in three of the first four races.

This included a third place finish in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a race where he could have started from the second row without limiting the crossing of the Piratella track in the final moments of qualifying.

“We always knew that he had the talent,” said team principal Andreas Seidl.

“He’s shown that in the different categories he’s won in the past.

“I think combining this with the experience you gained in your first few years in Formula One.

“That ends in the performance he is currently showing with us.”

Norris made his Formula 1 debut in 2019, driving a McLaren alongside Carlos Sainz.

The couple stayed together last year, and the young Brit almost matched his more seasoned Spanish counterpart.

“For these young people in the first season [of] In Formula 1, it is normal for you to grow during these years, ”emphasized Seidl.

“It’s also normal to grow as a person and as a driver.

“He’s somehow one with the team, including the car, because he now obviously has this experience with us.

“To some extent, you could also say that in terms of voice, too, he made it clear what he needed from the team on the call in order to perform at his best,” he added.

“When we see what he’s doing on the right track, it’s just amazing to see how he does it when it matters.”

After the Spanish Grand Prix, after finishing eighth – his worst of the season – Norris slipped to fourth place in the drivers’ standings in Barcelona.

He is now six points behind Valtteri Bottas and is one of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.