“They know absolutely nothing,” Lando Norris dismisses critics of new McLaren deal as ‘clueless’
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Lando Norris
McLaren is in a bit of an uneasy situation right now. 2022 has been a bit of a step back for them, while they currently sit fourth in the table, Alpine is only 6 points behind, and looks to catch up with them. Both teams target a fourth-place finish. It seems that, unlike last year, McLaren will have no opportunities for victory or to fight to be the third-best team.
Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles for form and with adapting to the car look to continue, and the Australian has only finished in the points twice (in the feature races) this season. With McLaren not looking like title contenders or even fighting at the front, many questioned Lando Norris’ decision to sign a long-term contract with the team, feeling that it was premature.
Lando Norris does not share these concerns and has paid no mind to criticism of his new McLaren deal, which will keep him at the team till 2025. According to him, people who question his decision are not very aware of the reality behind his situation, and also said that he is looking to play a long-term game.
Also Read: “We deserved 5th position,” Lando Norris gutted and blames team for bad pit-stop strategy
Lando Norris insists that he is planning with McLaren for the long time
In an interview with Sky Sports, Lando Norris responded to critics of his new deal, saying, in clear terms: “They’re clueless! I don’t know why… everyone thinks they know, he definitely could have gone here, he could have done that.” Norris also added: “But most of the time they know absolutely nothing, all these people coming up with these conclusions.”
Norris felt that McLaren was certainly the best place for him, due in part to his familiarity with the team: “I have a good team around me so we know where I want to be and when, what the team can offer me going into the future.”
He insisted that he is focusing on a long-term future with McLaren: “I have played, let’s say, a little bit more of a long-term game rather than short-term.” he also said that it was uncertain if he actually would be successful on leaving McLaren: “I’ve not been in that situation so it’s hard for me to speak on other people’s behalves, but you see many other drivers, not just Daniel, go from team to team and it’s obviously not easy to just go in and nail it.
Lando Norris felt that some drivers adapt to new teams better than others, and Carlos Sainz who went from McLaren to Ferrari, and won his first race last weekend, is an example of such a driver, in contrast to Daniel Ricciardo, who has struggled at McLaren since his move from Red Bull.
For now, after a return to form in Silverstone with a sixth-place finish (which could have been fifth without a strategy error from McLaren), Norris will certainly be looking for even more points in Austria, and look to seal his ‘best of the rest’ position.
Also Read: WATCH: Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton joke around in front of home fans before the British GP
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)