Lando Norris has stated he is uncertain if he currently holds the title of Britain`s leading Formula 1 driver, but confirmed he is “working on” establishing himself as the nation`s best.
Norris is one of four British drivers set to receive home support at this weekend`s British Grand Prix, alongside Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Oliver Bearman.
The 25-year-old, who is currently 15 points behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at the top of the standings as they both pursue a first drivers` championship, is comfortably ahead of Russell in fourth and Hamilton in sixth.
Despite his strong position in the current championship, Norris conceded that many would likely still rank seven-time world champion Hamilton, who boasts a record 105 F1 victories, ahead of him based on historical success.
Norris commented: “I believe I have the best chance of winning the race, and I`m certainly the one most likely to challenge for the championship this season.”
“Am I the top British driver? I don`t know. It depends on how much historical achievement you take into account.”
“If you consider history, Lewis is quite definitively at the top. He has far more race wins, pole positions, and championships than anyone else combined, really.”
“Perhaps I`m the favourite from a British perspective this weekend, but I`m not sure. That`s your [the media`s] role, to assign rankings, not mine.”
“It would be wonderful to achieve that. That`s my goal. It`s the same for any athlete, whether in tennis, golf, or any series. You aspire to be number one. I`d say I haven`t proven myself to be that yet, but it`s something I`m actively working on.”
Silverstone Victory Would Surpass Monaco Triumph
Three wins this season have brought Norris`s career total to seven. In his view, the most special win to date came at the Monaco Grand Prix in May.
Norris seemed hesitant when asked if he still stood by his pre-Monaco assertion that he would swap all his wins (which were five at the time) for a debut victory at Silverstone.
He said: “I think it`s difficult to place anything above Monaco, but I did say before Monaco that if I could choose any single win, if I could trade all my race wins for one, it would be for a Silverstone win. So, that remains the aspiration.”
“Naturally, there`s a lot of hard work and many steps before that, but Monaco is incredibly special.”
“I believe they would feel very different victories, for different reasons. Monaco`s significance is rooted in its history, what it represents to everyone, and the esteemed drivers who have won there.”
“Silverstone is different because it`s my home race, and it`s about the British fans and my supporters.”
“So, different motivations, but a Silverstone win is the one that would likely bring the biggest smile to my face, perhaps even more than Monaco. It`s the victory I`ve desired the most since I was a child watching Formula 1.”
Norris Hopes for Home Advantage
Norris bounced back strongly from the disappointment of causing a collision with teammate Piastri in Canada by winning from pole position in Austria last time out, reigniting his championship challenge.
McLaren have introduced upgrades to the MCL39 aimed at improving Norris`s comfort in the cockpit, following his struggles early in the season where he reported a “lack of feeling” from the front of the car.
He cautioned that his strong performance in Austria does not guarantee similar success at Silverstone but remains hopeful that the combination of his updated car and the boost from home support will help him maintain momentum.
Norris stated: “I definitely felt more on track in Austria, but there`s no guarantee I`ll have the exact same sensations here.”
“Sometimes it can be very track-specific, depending on the tarmac, tire temperature, or other variables. I certainly felt better and more in rhythm.”
“My qualifying lap in Q3 was one of the best I`ve ever executed. I definitely got that feeling, a bit more of the old me returned, but I`m also not someone to simply claim `I`m back`.”
“I believe I need to demonstrate consistency and prove it to myself, as always. Austria`s result just provides extra motivation to come here and attempt to achieve something similar to last weekend.”
“You always hope your home race provides a slight advantage. I`m hoping that will be the case this weekend.”
