Lando Norris: “I haven’t yet proved that I’m the number one driver in Formula 1”
Lando Norris declares that he hasn't yet proved he's the best driver in F1, despite the revival of his title race thanks to his victory in Austria.
Despite starting the season as a championship favorite, Lando Norris has been largely overshadowed by his teammate, Oscar Piastri so far, with costly mistakes in qualifying in Saudi Arabia and Canada clouding his campaign.
Lando Norris determined before his home Grand Prix
He responded strongly in Austria last weekend, securing a dominant victory from start to finish, narrowing his gap to Oscar Piastri to 15 points. However, doubts remain about his ability to sustain a series of performances worthy of an F1 champion.
When asked whether he considers himself the number one British driver ahead of his home Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend, Lando Norris replied: « I have the best chance to win the race and, of course, I am the one most likely to fight for the championship this season. »
« Am I the number one Briton? I don’t know. I don’t know to what extent we take history into account. I think if we take history into account, then Lewis [Hamilton] is very clearly in the lead. »
« Many more race wins, poles, and championships than just about anyone else combined. I would say maybe I’m the favorite for the weekend from a British perspective, I don’t know. »
« It’s your job to put the numbers on people, not mine. It would be nice, it’s my goal, like for any athlete in any discipline. In tennis or golf, you want to be number 1. I wouldn’t say I’ve proven it yet, but it’s something I’m working on », he says.
Lando Norris was able to bounce back in Austria.
The Spielberg weekend was significant for Lando Norris, who dominated all sessions despite his absence during the first free practice to give track time to the young McLaren driver, Alex Dunne.
He also won a wheel-to-wheel battle with Oscar Piastri at the beginning of the race, an important moment for a driver whose overtaking ability had previously been criticized.
Lando Norris has now won three Grand Prix in 2025 compared to five for Oscar Piastri, with both drivers winning eight of the first eleven races together.
The Briton specified that his victory in Austria doesn’t mean he has found his mojo, because only a series of consistent performances will prove that he is at his best.
« If there is ever a place where I hope to ‘find my garden’, it’s here », said Lando Norris. « I definitely felt a bit more in the rhythm in Austria, but it’s not a guarantee that I will have the same feeling here. »
« Sometimes, it can be very specific to the track, the asphalt, the tire temperature, etc. I definitely felt better, more in the rhythm. My lap in Q3 was one of the best I’ve ever done. »
« So I really had this feeling of… a bit more of the old me coming back. [But] I don’t want to say that I’m back », he explains.
« I must prove it with consistency and I must prove it to myself, as always. So, it certainly gives more motivation to come here trying to do something similar to this weekend.
« And we always want to feel that our home race gives us an extra advantage. I hope that will be the case this weekend », he concluded.
