Carlos Sainz reveals Lando Norris’ ‘strength’ amidst fierce title fight with Max Verstappen

Lando Norris has so far managed to amass 279 points with three Grand Prix wins in the 2024 Formula 1 season.


Carlos Sainz reveals Lando Norris’ ‘strength’ amidst fierce title fight with Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Carlos Sainz (Via: Imago)

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris are popularly known as CarLando at the pinnacle of motor racing. This name has stuck with the duo since their days together at McLaren. The latter is currently in a championship brawl with Max Verstappen and amidst this, Sainz has revealed Norris’ biggest strength.

The Spaniard and the Brit spent two years at the papaya outfit together in 2019 and 2020. During this time Carlos Sainz got the first-hand experience of what Lando Norris was capable of.

YouTube video

With Norris being a fierce driver’s title fight this year, Sainz has taken the time to shed light on his former teammate’s strength.

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I think being hard on himself and self-critical is a strength that Lando has. And I think it makes him improve more than others, quicker. At least in our first year together, he had very strong progress in the first two years by having that approach.

Carlos Sainz via GPBlog

The 30-year-old has emphasized Norris’ trait of being too harsh on himself. Sainz genuinely feels that this trait has immensely helped Norris in becoming the prolific driver that he has become today in modern F1 racing.

Lando Norris is in under immense ‘spotlight’ in 2024

While Carlos Sainz has applauded Lando Norris for a certain trait of his, he has also specifically given his take on the Brit’s tussle at the front end of the grid. Norris is only 52 points behind Max Verstappen in the championship standings.

Lando Norris (via imago)
Lando Norris (via imago)

The problem when you’re up there at the front is that you’re in the spotlight, and every small mistake is more noticeable.

Carlos Sainz via the same interview

Norris has been criticized for his poor race starts during the 2024 F1 season. He has botched his starts quite a few times and because of this, he has come under some fire from the F1 pundits.

However, at his last outing at the Singapore Grand Prix, he did not put even a single foot wrong. Starting from pole, he kept the leading going into Turn 1 and then, never looked back. Norris led all the laps and won the race by a margin of over 20 seconds. He will be required to produce much of the same in the remaining six races to amass his maiden F1 world championship.