Lando Norris believes McLaren have each likelihood of having the ability to combat for the world championship titles subsequent season after successful the Miami Grand Prix.
He grew to become Components 1 latest grand prix winner final weekend in Miami after McLaren launched their first main improve package deal of the season.
Having achieved his first race win after over 100 grands prix begins, Norris stated McLaren are “100%” able to going additional and changing into championship contenders subsequent yr.
“I’m saying that also with my toes on the bottom – completely,” Norris instructed Sky throughout celebrations at McLaren’s Woking manufacturing facility.
“I wish to imagine we’ve obtained two nice drivers, as Zak [Brown, team principal] usually says. I’ve obtained a tremendous staff behind me, now we have a tremendous staff behind us and we’re nearer than ever.
“As I stated at first of this yr, we will win races. I wish to imagine and I ought to have the arrogance to say subsequent yr we will go for extra, we will go for the subsequent step. However, now we have much more work to do and we’re working onerous to attempt to obtain it.”
Requested if he believes he’ll change as a driver and develop into even stronger on account of securing his first victory, Norris says each he and his McLaren staff have extra confidence in themselves following their success.
“I’m the identical me, I’m the identical individual. I believed at first of the yr we may win races – and now we have. We’ve received that first one. So have the religion.
“I’ve the arrogance that we will do it as a staff and I believe we proved precisely that. I’m positive one thing’s modified or one thing inside has modified as a result of I’m a race-winner now. However on the similar time, it doesn’t change how I strategy issues. I’m nonetheless the identical man. I nonetheless wish to win extra. It makes you extra hungry for wanting it greater than I ever had earlier than.”
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Following McLaren’s profitable improve in Miami, Norris believes that there could possibly be sturdy competitors on the entrance of the sector between his staff, champions Crimson Bull and Ferrari over the remaining 18 rounds of the championship.
“We are able to win extra races this yr,” he stated. “I believe we will compete towards Crimson Bull. I believe we’re taking a look at an thrilling season between us, Crimson Bull, Ferrari.
“We nonetheless have work to do. We’re not on the degree that they’re simply but. There’s going to be races that we’re aggressive sufficient, however on common, we’re not fairly the place we wish to be. I believe we nonetheless have our toes on the bottom, we all know now we have extra work to do, however as quickly as they’ve all had somewhat drink this morning, I’m going to inform them to get again to work so we will preserve combating much more.”
Norris will possible should problem world champion Max Verstappenif he’s to develop into a world champion sooner or later. However he believes his good relationship with the Crimson Bull driver won’t be soured in the event that they had been to develop into title rivals.
“We now have respect for each other,” Norris stated. “We get alongside. We’re not finest mates – we don’t textual content one another day-after-day, that form of factor. However, we simply have a whole lot of respect from him to me and me again to him.
“I sit up for it. I wish to problem him. I wish to race towards him. I wish to battle, as a result of I believe he’s the most effective drivers ever in Components 1. So if I can show myself towards him, I’m proving myself towards the most effective and that’s precisely what I wish to do.”
Celebrating his victory with the McLaren staff, Norris says everybody on the manufacturing facility shall be extra motivated to realize extra wins over the remainder of the season.
“I used to be assured I may obtain what now we have finished this weekend and we will obtain it many extra instances this yr and as you’ll be able to see, what it means to them, it means simply as a lot to me, and I wish to proceed sharing much more race wins and championships along with them,” he stated. “In order that’s our plan.”
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