“Can I Keep a 7-Time World Champion Behind Me?”- Lando Norris Explains the Massive Pressure of Challenging Lewis Hamilton in F1

Fans are awaiting the 2022 season of Formula 1 with less than a week remaining. However, last year served some juicy clashes with different drivers making a mark on the sport. McLaren’s Lando Norris is one of them as he finished 6th in the Driver Standings.

He showed his potential and performed at a high-quality level last year. He earned many plaudits, especially from the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Norris turns back and answers on how is it to race against one of the greatest in the sport.

What Goes Through Norris’ Mind While Defending?

Lewis Hamilton has displayed his admiration for Lando Norris multiple times. The pair had plenty of battles last year, especially in Austria, Russia, and Silverstone.

Norris showed his ability when he kept Hamilton at bay, during the Russian Grand Prix, but ultimately lost the battle when he decided to not change to wet tires.

Speaking on the High Performance Podcast about what it feels like to race Lewis Hamilton, he said ”It’s a tricky one, because the first few times I really began to race him in Austria, Russia, can I keep a Seven-Time World Champion behind me? These kind of things they do play in your mind a little bit.”

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Norris also admitted that there are a lot of thoughts that go through a driver’s head while defending. He added, “What has he understood or what’s he learned over his last 20 years that he’s going to try and outsmart me on? Is it the batteries, is it the tires, is it the engine mode, is he going to try and pull back to make me feel I’m comfortable and then pound to have a go?”

Anticipation is key, according to Lando Norris

Lando Norris won many plaudits for his ability to overtake last year. However, his capacity to defend also came in handy for himself and McLaren. He revealed that expecting Hamilton’s move was crucial and there was a chance of overthinking.

The British driver stated, “There’s something he is going to be more experienced than me on. I just need to be ready to anticipate what that might be.”

Norris also revealed that it gave him a boost that Hamilton could not overtake him with ease. “The outcome of I managed to hold him off, as long as I could and he did not just cruise past me. He did not outsmart me”, he explained.

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Norris added, “It just gives me a little bit more confidence like he did not actually do anything out of this world.” The 23-year-old driver claims he covered the basics against Hamilton and it was his own mistakes that led him to lose the lead.

McLaren have had a solid start to the season. They will look to challenge the top 3 this year, with Lando Norris at the heart of it. The young British driver continues to be on the rise and will hope that this season will prove to be better than his last.