McLaren’s Lando Norris says his world title win has only increased his hunger for more success as he prepares to defend his crown in Melbourne.
MELBOURNE: Lando Norris says his tense world title triumph last year has made him hungrier than ever to win another.
The McLaren driver held off teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a thrilling three-way fight that concluded at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. This victory ended McLaren’s long wait for a champion, last achieved by Lewis Hamilton in 2008, and also secured the constructors’ crown.
Mercedes and Red Bull are considered narrow frontrunners for this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Norris, however, is not concerned about starting on the back foot.
“I don’t think we’re starting on the back foot. You know, even if you’re second, third or fourth quickest, I don’t think that’s on the back foot,” he said. He believes his team has proven they can improve dramatically over a long season.
The 26-year-old began his championship-winning campaign with victory at Melbourne last year. He then had to wait seven more Grands Prix for another win as Piastri took control before the title fight expanded.
“I guess one of the big learning things from last year is to not get too frustrated with one bad race, two bad races, bad beginning of a year. It can always come back as long as you keep working hard,” Norris stated.
Conscious of being the hunted driver, Norris has undertaken more off-season training than ever before. He insists the extra pressure has only spurred him on.
“I’m still just as hungry,” he said, adding that winning the title made him crave that euphoric feeling again. “For me, it was the same feeling with the championship — that one is amazing, but then you definitely want to achieve two.”
He dismissed the idea that his mindset changes now that he is the champion. “But honestly, when you get on track you’re not either (the hunted or the hunter). You certainly don’t think ‘I’m the hunted now’, and something changes.”
The Sun Malaysia
