Lando Norris was undeniably one of the best performers of the 2021 Formula One season, thanks to his drastic evolution as a racing driver leading to multiple podium finishes and a pole position at Sochi. The Briton carried the entire McLaren outfit on his shoulders while his new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, was evidently struggling with the car.

Hence, following a rather dominant 2021 season, Norris is keen on sustaining his mojo heading into the new era. In an interview with The Race, Norris even acknowledged that he could well pull off yet another podium-ridden season this year considering his ability to adapt to new cars in a comparatively short period of time.

What did Lando Norris say?

During the interview, Norris revealed that he had spent his winter break driving the MCL36 on the simulator, seeking different driving styles.

“Of course, that’s in the back of my head. And in the winter I’ve spent a lot of time not just driving the car [in the simulator] but being prepared to drive in different ways and be ready to drive in different driving styles and so on,” he said. “Our car was quite specific the past few years in how you had to drive it, how you had to get the performance out of it and that showed with Daniel coming into the car.

“Some cars it’s easier to adapt to others. Carlos [Sainz] showed at Ferrari that he did a very good job in adapting much quicker. Daniel came to McLaren and it was much harder to adapt to our car and the characteristics.”

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Norris relies on adaptability

The young Briton admitted that his chances of seeking a strong 2022 show entirely depend on his adaptability to the MCL36. “I want to say, touch wood, that it has been one of my strengths in the past to adapt to new cars and different driving styles,” he said.

“I got a feeling for it when I did the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award when you had to go from the F2 car to the DTM car to the GT3, I think that was one of my better points, being able to jump into any of them and do a good job. That’s something that I enjoy and a challenge that I like. So, I’m looking forward to this and making sure that I’m not too carried away with how last year’s car was.”

Overall, Norris is certainly looking forward to a much tougher season in 2022 amidst the potential resurgence of Ferrari and other lower mid-field teams. What’s more, he might have to watch out for his own teammate as well, who looked in prime touch during the closing stages of 2021.

So, with too much pressure adding up, can Norris defy the odds to challenge the drivers of the top two constructors for the drivers’ championship? Well, only time will tell.

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