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This weekend, Lando Norris will reach the celebrated century mark for Formula 1 race starts at the United States Grand
“It feels like only yesterday that he made his debut in the sport – but in the four and a bit years since, he’s become one of the most universally recognisable and popular figures on the grid and is also seen as one of its most talented drivers. 100 grands prix, all for McLaren, is a fine achievement in itself, whilst he has also recorded eleven podiums to date. Of course, a win has eluded him so far, but then he’s not really been in possession of a car capable of challenging for victories – although he’ll be hoping that that is something that will soon change given the immense progress McLaren have made over the course of 2023. Ahead of reaching his tonne, Motorsport Week spoke exclusively to the British ace – as he closes in on joining Lewis Hamilton, Alain Prost, Mika Hakkinen, and David Coulthard as the only drivers to have hit 100 starts for the Woking-based team – to discuss that milestone, and the highs and lows of his career so far. ‘I think the hard thing for me in general with stats is there are certain ones I maybe like more than others,’ Norris says when the A-list motorsport company he is about to join is put to him. ‘If it’s got anything to do with wins and stuff like that I respect it when that time comes. I respect it in general, but it’s no target of mine. ‘I’ve done five years already not being able to win a race because I’ve just not had the car to do so. Comparing to other people, you know, they’re in different situations – Lewis came into McLaren when they were winning races. So if anyone asks me, ‘are you trying to do what Lewis did?’ I’d go ‘no,’ because you can’t – it’s just not the same. ‘I’m just trying to do my own stuff and maximise what I can do myself. When that time comes of ‘you’re now matching these guys’ or ‘you’ve got 30 wins,’ then I think that’s when I see it as a huge achievement to be alongside these people because I respect everyone that I race with, race against, and who has raced. ‘Of course, I do think some people are better than others and things like that and maybe I respect other drivers more than some, but to go alongside names who have achieved race wins in the first place, because that’s never an easy thing to do, is great. ‘I think if you asked 90% of people in Formula One, do you know Prost? They’ll say yeah, do you know Hakkinen? They’ll say yeah, maybe Coulthard not so much!’ he laughs. ‘No I’m great friends with David! I think that’s a great achievement for everyone. It proves that they were in F1 a long time and they respected McLaren. ‘So yeah, to have your name alongside any person that’s achieved things in Formula One I think is a great thing. It’s never something I go out to achieve but I respect it once I’ve achieved it.’ Of course, the wins and the championships are the stats he will want to see begin to swell in the coming years, with the Briton having showcased all the class and guile you need to achieve that with the multiple podiums he has accrued to date. It makes sense, then, when we ask him to reflect on the high moments from the 99 grands prix he’s competed in so far. However, it’s in discussing the lows that Norris provides a little more insight into the challenges a driver at the top level of motorsport faces.”
Source: Motorsport Week
