Lando Norris feels WEIRD racing against Lewis Hamilton, admits the Mercedes driver is the main reason he is in F1

Ahead of the British Grand Prix, the British driver Lando Norris has shared his feelings about racing against fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton. Growing up, Norris idolized the seven-time champion and now shares the track with the former McLaren champion. Norris describes the experience as “weird” but undeniably inspiring.

The McLaren driver expressed his feelings, saying, “He’s part of the reason I’m an F1 driver, so it’s weird thinking I’m now racing against him.” Lando Norris‘ respect for Hamilton extends beyond the racetrack, with the McLaren driver seeing the seven-time world champion as a major source of motivation. Their friendship has been progressively expanding, and Norris has had the opportunity to get to know Hamilton more intimately in recent months. “It’s a pretty cool thing,” Norris remarked.

Norris, who burst onto the scene in 2019 and has since established himself as a prominent figure among the new drivers, seeks to learn from Hamilton’s wealth of experience.

While he may not be the most overtly inquisitive person, Norris adopts a more subtle approach, endeavoring to understand Hamilton’s mindset and unravel the thought processes that have made him an icon of the sport. “I just try to understand how they think, and their thought processes and kind of understand what makes them special,” Norris explained.

Discover: Lando Norris warns the ‘Just Stop Oil’ protesters not to be ‘stupid and selfish’ at the British GP

Lando Norris expects to come out as the ‘Top Brit’ at the British Grand Prix

On the track at the recent Austrian Grand Prix, Norris engaged in a thrilling duel with Hamilton. Norris eventually pulled ahead, finishing in fourth position, while Hamilton was penalized five seconds for breaching track restrictions. In his post-race comments, Norris expressed confidence in his ability to emerge as the ‘top Brit’ in his home event, the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

To mark McLaren’s 60th anniversary, the team will reintroduce its classic chrome livery, used when Hamilton won the championship in 2008. This symbolic gesture pays homage to the last time McLaren was victorious when Hamilton was at the wheel. McLaren expects to bring fresh enhancements to Silverstone after a good performance at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Although initially, only Norris benefited from the upgrades, with teammate Oscar Piastri set to receive it at their home track, the team is optimistic about their prospects. Norris demonstrated superior pace compared to the Mercedes and Aston Martin teams at the Red Bull Ring, fueling hopes for a similar showing at Silverstone.

As the anticipation builds for the British Grand Prix, Norris acknowledges the added pressure of racing at his home circuit. Nevertheless, he embraces the excitement and remains determined to deliver a stellar performance for his loyal fans. Undoubtedly, this event holds a special place in his heart, with Norris describing it as “by far the most fun and exciting weekend of the season.” Looking ahead, Norris and his teammate hope that the Just Stop Oil protestors, who disrupted last year’s race, do not repeat their actions. 

In case you missed it:

• “Who let a toddler design their livery again”- F1 Twitter ridicule McLaren’s throwback Chrome livery for British GP
• George Russell admits that Lando Norris’ pace was a ‘big surprise’ for Mercedes at the Austrian GP

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