Lando Norris has yet to claim victory from the leading position, but the McLaren driver expressed no feelings of urgency after securing the top spot for the fourth time at the Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 24-year-old’s sole Formula 1 triumph occurred in Miami in May, starting from fifth place on the grid. In both Spain and Hungary this season, the British driver began from pole position and finished second, trailing behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri — the two drivers who will start directly behind him on Sunday’s grid at Zandvoort. During his first pole position in Russia in 2021, he ended up in seventh place at the checkered flag due to staying on slick tires for too long during the rain. “I have a desire to win, but I am not feeling desperate. I understand that you desire a catchy headline, but I won’t provide it,” Norris stated to reporters, becoming the first driver to outdo Verstappen and secure pole position at the Red Bull driver’s home race. “I am determined to win. I am putting in the effort to achieve victory.
All of us here as a team have that same desire to win, but there is no desperation since it doesn’t lead to anything,” he added.
“I’ve been putting in a lot of effort… I’ve worked diligently throughout the winter and summer, and I’m starting to see some positive results. However, tomorrow is the ultimate test. I’m determined to win, but I’m not desperate.”
Norris is known for being extremely self-critical, always quick to take responsibility for any mistakes and constantly comparing his performance to perfection. While he has made some errors this season, McLaren has also acknowledged their own share of the blame for situations where they have let him down.
“I’m aware that my starts haven’t been my strongest suit. They haven’t been terrible, to be honest. I still rank among the best when it comes to average starts. It’s just that I’ve missed out on a few races, which has made it seem worse than it actually is,” he explained.
“Each time, it’s been something different, but I feel confident that I’ve put in the effort to improve my starts. Tomorrow is a fresh opportunity.”
Verstappen, who is not only a fierce rival but also a good friend, anticipates a challenging battle.
“Lando is incredibly fast, and that’s what it takes to excel in Formula One. He’s performing at such a high level for a reason,” said the three-time world champion, who currently holds a commanding lead of 78 points.
“With experience, he will only continue to get even better.”
“I have probably been competing for world championships for a slightly longer period of time. However, when the team is functioning effectively, the car is performing optimally, and your driving is at its best, success naturally follows.”
