1 week Ago By Will Wood
Lando Norris admitted he felt deflated after dropping crucial points to Max Verstappen in the title battle in the last round at Interlagos. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The result meant Norris fell from 47 points adrift from the championship leader with four rounds remaining to 62 points behind heading into the final three. Verstappen has his first opportunity to clinch this year’s world title during Saturday’s grand prix.
Norris says he took time to overcome the disappointment of losing so much ground to his rival and accepting his championship chances are virtually over for this season. “For a week, I was pretty down after Brazil because I had that realisation that things are pretty much out of my control now – not within reach necessarily,” Norris said. “And that’s a tough realisation when hopes and your belief is so high, for it to get knocked down so much all of a sudden was pretty demoralising and not the best of feelings.
But you learn to accept that’s life. “I admitted even in Miami that I was lucky in Miami to get the win, with the Safety Car, and that’s the strategy you play. I think Brazil was still a little bit more luck of the trade, but that is Formula 1.
That’s racing. I’ve not complained about it. Luck can be on your side.
It can be on other people’s side. That’s life. So I don’t mind.
One day it will go your way, the next it won’t.” Despite his looming defeat in the championship, Norris has enjoyed his most successful season by far in Formula 1 with three grand prix victories, seven pole positions, 12 podiums and over 300 points so far. Asked what he has learned from this season, Norris said he is now sure he “has what it takes” to fight for championship titles in the future.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free “I think it’s the first time in the last six years of Formula 1 when we’ve had a chance to fight at the front,” he said. “We’ve not been able to do that for the last six years, so this is our – and my – first opportunity to do so and my first opportunity to see where I stand. “I definitely was not at the level I needed to be at the beginning of the year – probably even the Miami point of the season.
Since the summer break, I feel like I’ve done a very good job and performed very, very well. By far some of my best performances that I’ve done. So I’ve been very happy actually with how the last few months have gone, honestly.
I wouldn’t change many things that have happened. “But I still need to make tweaks. I still need to improve on things – that’s clear.
I’m not completely satisfied with how I’ve done. I definitely know I need to make improvements, but for the first time I’m confident to say that I have what I think I need to fight for a championship. “It doesn’t mean I’m complete.
Doesn’t mean I’m perfect, that’s for sure. When you’re competing against drivers who are close to that, like Max, you have to be close to perfect if you want to challenge him and challenge the teams around. So I’m confident and I think the main thing I can take away is I have faith that I have got what it takes to fight for a championship.
” Get a daily email with all our latest stories - and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here: Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free.
