Lando Norris claims Lewis Hamilton still has a lot of ‘respect and love’ for McLaren F1
Lando Norris views Lewis Hamilton as the reason why he decided to plunge into the exciting world of F1.
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Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton (Credits: The Independent)
Lewis Hamilton is easily one of the most prolific drivers to enter Formula 1. He started his career at the pinnacle of motor racing with the McLaren F1 team. Its current driver, Lando Norris, has admitted that his fellow countryman still has a lot of affection toward his past team.
Lewis Hamilton won his first world championship with the woking-based team in 2008, and to date, he remains the last driver who helped McLaren clinch the coveted title. Since then, the outfit hasn’t been able to match the lights of Mercedes and Red Bull regarding car development.
While McLaren is currently a mid-table team, Lando Norris feels Lewis Hamilton wants the papaya outfit to do well; while talking about the same, he said, as reported by Soymotor, “Lewis is one of the reasons why I’m a Formula 1 driver, why I’ve always wanted to be one. It’s strange to think that I’m racing against him right now and it’s great fun, an honor.”
“I think it’s a relationship that is changing and growing, I imagine it’s because of the moment in his career where he is and things like that. He still has a very strong respect and love for McLaren. He wants us to do well, and it’s a very nice thing to see, as it was the place where he started his career. You always have that feeling, thinking that you owe something to the team with which you took your first steps,” Norris added.
Lando Norris’s take on his relationship with Lewis Hamilton
While Lando Norris has nothing but absolute respect for what Lewis Hamilton has achieved so far in his F1 career, he has also admitted that in recent times he has gotten to know the former 7-time World Champion better. He added, “Over the last few months, Lewis and I have been talking more and more, we’ve gotten to know each other better and better.”
“He’s great, I have a lot of respect for him and for everything he’s achieved in Formula 1 so far. I’m not that kind of person who asks a lot of questions, I don’t even try to get into other people’s heads, I’m not like that. I’m happy to spend time with people with him.” Norris has made it pretty evident that Hamilton is nothing short of a true inspiration for him.
However, while Norris has a lot of respect for Hamilton, at the end of the day, they are rivals in F1. McLaren made a strong step during the closing stages of the first leg of 2023, and a possibility could arise where both the Brits could be seen locking horns during the upcoming second leg of the season.
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Rishabh Negi
(3244 Articles Published)