Ricciardo can strike back if it clicks at McLaren F1

Norris shone against Ricciardo in his first season together at McLaren this year and is currently 153 points compared to the Australian’s 105.

But since the team was aware that some of Ricciardo’s problems were due to the fact that he simply needed time to adapt to the new characteristics of the McLaren car, Norris fully accepts that the situation could change quickly.

And after Norris saw Ricciardo beat him to claim McLaren’s only campaign win to date at the Italian GP, ​​Norris understands that the Australian could bring another driver back if things work out for him.

Commenting on the rivalry with Ricciardo this season, Norris said, “I think it was very good for me. It was also one of the reasons I enjoy the environment a little more.

“When you compete against a driver like that, the question always arises: will you be okay? Will he beat me in every single qualifying or race of the season?

“These thoughts go through your head a little for the year. So if none of that happens you’re like, ‘Okay, if I can do this against him and he could beat this guy while he was in the same car, then I have to be in a decent place.’ So it makes you think of good things.

“On the other hand, I don’t have the feeling that I’m suddenly the best driver in the world. There were still races where he was faster than me and qualifying where he was a bit faster.

“I know he’s still Daniel. As soon as he clicks and finds his way and so on, I hope to still be faster than him. But I know that it won’t be that I’m always faster because he’s a very, very good driver.

“But my confidence definitely made me feel like I was playing. And that’s not necessarily all because I hit Daniel. “

Ferrari fight

Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari SF21, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M

Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images

In the short term, Norris needs Ricciardo to perform as well as possible as McLaren tries to regain the lost ground to Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.

The team from Woking has slipped to 39.5 points behind Ferrari with only two races left.

The gap between the two teams is the largest in the entire season, and Norris believes Ferrari’s late-season engine upgrade proved to be the deciding factor.

“It helped them,” he said. “Before that, they were very good at energy. They put in a lot of effort, which doesn’t make a big difference on some tracks, but definitely helps on others.

“If we pull out of the straight and lose 20 km / h, they just keep going. It makes a huge difference in how you can drive them and overtake them and all.

“I think it was just very close all season and I still think we did a better job as a team. I think there have been more races where they were faster, but they just made more mistakes than us. You should be further ahead.

“But it’s tough. When I look at the drivers’ standings, I’m still ahead of both of them [Ferrari drivers]. So of course I want the team to be up there. But I feel like I did as much as I could to help on this side. “

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