Lando Norris has been anointed as the future of F1. The British-Belgian driver was setting F3 and F2 circuits on fire before he was brought onboard McLaren as a reserve driver in 2018. He has since earned plaudits driving as McLaren’s number 1.

Norris had decent seasons in 2019 and 2020. 2021 was the season he came true to his hype. The young driver got a P6 in the World Championship, on the back of 4 podium finishes. The most famous of all was the P2 in Monza.

However, things aren’t looking the best for McLaren this season. On the official F1 podcast, Beyond the Grid, Norris was asked if he enters every weekend hoping for a podium. He was quick to reply, “Uh, no, not at all. Podium? No! I wish.”

He goes on to explain why. He said, “I don’t understand how I was on the podium in Imola. Our car is one a bit seconds off everyone else. And for me to achieve a podium in Imola, like I don’t understand how. So many cars, people don’t realize, are quicker than us at that point in the season.”

The hos then pointed out that McLaren seems like a better qualifying car than a race car. To this, Norris said, “That’s true. In a way.”

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McLaren may not have the quickest car on the grid yet, but it has pocketed itself with the best young talents around. Lando Norris signed a new contract which keeps him at the papaya team till 2025 while Oscar Piastri joins in 2023.

Lando Norris explains the Hungarian GP performance

Norris calls the McLaren a better qualifying car but adds that it is difficult to explain phenomena.

“I was 4/10ths off pole, I end up 62 seconds behind the car in front of me in race. Then the Alpine…is quicker through the whole racetrack than me by the last corner. I had a magical last corner. Quicker than some of the Red Bulls, Ferraris, Mercedes. That saved me, it put me in front of both the Alpines. If I wouldn’t have had such a good last corner, I would be behind the Alpines,” said Norris.

Lando also said, “It’s all to do with the wind. The wind was quite strong in qualifying…Trying to get into the headwind as quickly as possible. So maximizing the entry and turning as early as possible…it saved my whole weekend.”

It really is fascinating knowing a driver’s state of mind while racing and the way plans are executed on the tracks.

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McLaren have their hands full as the season comes to a wrap. They will be looking to add some speed to their cars as they enter the next season with one of the most exciting driver pairings.