McLaren’s Lando Norris hasn’t always given seven-time Formula 1 world champion his dues as a driver, and he’s finding out first hand after rising close to the top of the F1 pile

Lando Norris may have jumped the gun in judging how easily F1 success comes with a top-tier car 

Lando Norris may be regretting his comments after Lewis Hamilton’s stunning victory at the British Grand Prix.

Despite partner George Russell’s retirement and Mercedes’ ongoing battle with a less competitive car, Hamilton clinched his first win since 2021 in spectacular fashion at Silverstone on Sunday. The seven-time world champion only recently bagged his first podium finish of 2024 but celebrated a new season high after crossing the line first in his home Grand Prix.

The win throws shade on the idea that F1 success is purely down to the cars and who has the best tech at any given time. The Silver Arrows’ product has been lagging behind Red Bull and Ferrari since the beginning of the 2022 season, and now Norris’ own McLaren squad is counted among those top-tier innovators.

However, the British driver has only managed a single victory during what has been an otherwise standout season for the Woking-based team. With McLaren believed to have one of, if not the fastest car out there, it brings Norris’ past remarks into the spotlight, as reported by the Daily Express.

Following Hamilton’s triumph at the 2020 Portuguese Grand Prix, Norris – who was in only his second F1 season – said there was an expectation for Mercedes’ star to “win every race” due to their superior engineering. At that time, Hamilton was chasing his fourth consecutive F1 world title (and seventh total), but it wasn’t without significant effort on his part.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me, really,” said Norris in Portugal. “He’s in a car which should win every race, basically. He has to beat one or two other drivers, that’s it. Fair play to him, he’s still doing the job he has to do.”