Lando Norris has revealed that his loss at the British Grand Prix triggered a turning point in the 2024 Formula 1 season as it caused McLaren to have “renewed focus”.
McLaren enters the last three rounds heading the Constructors’ Championship, while Norris remains the sole driver who can edge Max Verstappen to the Drivers’ title.
However, the Briton’s prospects are minute as a ruinous outing in Brazil last time out allowed Verstappen to extend his lead to 62 points with 86 available on the table.
McLaren and Norris have been made to bemoan several missed opportunities across the campaign to capitalise on Red Bull’s downturn to close more on Verstappen.
Norris, who has insisted that 2024 mustn’t be deemed a failure should he miss out, highlighted one such occasion at Silverstone that had a lasting impact on the side.
McLaren was poised to triumph in a mixed conditions encounter on home soil when a late switch to slicks cost Norris the race lead to eventual victor Lewis Hamilton.
With Verstappen also getting through to protect his margin, Norris, who trailed home third, divulged how the race prompted McLaren to sharpen up in all departments.
Asked whether being involved in a title fight brings enhanced focus each weekend, Norris told media including Motorsport Week in Austin last month: “100%, that fighting for a championship brings a lot more focus.
“I think it switched a long time ago, honestly. I think it switched probably closer towards Miami time [when Norris won his maiden race].
“I think that’s how early we kind of realised this could be a year that things can start to go quite well for us.
“It was obvious by then that more focus, more work needs to be done in every area possible.
“Some of it came after, you know. I think we’ve seen plenty of times, probably races we kind of regret not winning.”
“Probably Silverstone being the main one that I think didn’t go our way it should have done.
“I think we look back on that with a bit of regret that we didn’t end up in better positions than where we ended up in.
“I think almost since Silverstone, probably more so, there was quite a renewed focus from everyone.
“And not just including me, or not just me, but including mechanics, engineers, everyone back in the factory, because it became more and more real, a little bit with time,
that we’re back in a position that we’ve worked very, very hard to be in, which is fighting for the championship and fighting for both the Constructors’ and for a Drivers’ Championship.
“I’m loving it. It’s definitely more enjoyable. It’s always going to be more enjoyable when you’re fighting for wins and you’re fighting for a championship. But I’m still relaxed.
“There’s more pressure and a few more nerves, but I’m honestly still very relaxed and pretty chilled about the whole thing.
“I’m sure it’s going to get pretty more stressful and the later into the season you go, the trickier it gets, for sure.
“But I’m happy. I’m in a comfortable place. I’m focused on myself. And, yeah, I’m enjoying the whole moment.”
Norris still adapting to the front in F1
Norris, who has conducted all of his race starts in F1 to date with McLaren, conceded that he was still getting accustomed to competing at the sharp end of the sport.
“I think I’m always going to find it odd,” Norris added in regard to realising his dreams as a child. “Maybe it takes a few more years to settle in.
“But I still feel like it wasn’t that long ago that I was watching it on TV and I was watching Fernando [Alonso], Lewis, Jenson [Button], all of these guys.
“Now that’s me in that position, so I still find that odd, but extremely cool at the same time and still lucky and honoured to be in the position that I’m in, especially with McLaren.”
READ MORE – McLaren has reached a ‘high standard’ in F1 2024 despite missed opportunities
