Lewis Hamilton has left a legendary mark on the Formula 1 circuit, boasting a career that extends beyond a decade now. His F1 debut in 2007 not only showcased his incredible driving skills but also marked as a historic moment as he became the first mixed-race driver in the series.
As 2023 is about to conclude, the seven-time World Champion stands out as one of the most experienced drivers on the grid now. Acknowledging this, in a recent interview, Lando Norris openly expressed his experience of competing against Hamilton on the tracks this season.
Lando Norris looks back showdowns with Lewis Hamilton
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton have shared some of the intense battles on the tracks this season, including the ones that took place at Silverstone and Austin. As much as Norris considers the British driver his idol, he also did not leave any space for Hamilton to fill in while racing on the grid.
In a recent interview, he was asked about his experience driving with the racing champion, to which he replied, “He’s doing well for an old guy now. So, yes, it is amazing. Lewis was a guy who I watched on TV growing up. He was a guy I looked at and admired, and now I am racing against him. It does feel weird, but I have a lot of respect for Lewis.“
IT’S VICTORY FOR VERSTAPPEN IN AUSTIN 🎊🇺🇸
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) October 22, 2023
Max holds off a late charge from Lewis Hamilton to win his third consecutive #USGP. Lando Norris continues his podium run in P3.
What a finish! pic.twitter.com/Y04sqsFKOG
Norris had one of the greatest pace improvements in this season with the development of the McLaren car, and effortlessly finished the season with sixth place in championships with a total of 205 points and clinched seven podiums singlehandedly.
On the other hand, Hamilton’s performance, despite struggling with his car, was nothing short of extraordinary. The British driver concluded the season with a total of 234 points. However, even after their relentless efforts, both drivers failed to surpass the Dutch sensation, Max Verstappen, on the tracks of Formula 1.
Lando braces for McLaren sacrifices
Lando Norris expresses in a recent statement how McLaren’s development in 2023 has recently made him confident enough to overcome the current struggles of the team in the near future.
ℹ️ In Austin, McLaren performed better than expected. In Mexico they also surprised itself with the pace.
— McLaren News | 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 (@McLarenF1_News) October 31, 2023
Which leads to cautious optimism for Brazil. Since Singapore's upgrade, Norris and Piastri have always had to be taken into account when it comes to awarding podiums#AMuS pic.twitter.com/0rLGIXWwgp
At the start of this season, McLaren had a very huge gap in their performance, securing only 17 points in the first eight races. However, after an elite upgrade in Austin, they experienced a huge improvement in their performance with the final package unfolding in Singapore, marking them as the second-best team behind Red Bull.
After overcoming all of the initial hurdles faced this season, Norris is confident to surpass Red Bull next season, along with improving their driving skills furthermore to avoid any current problems faced by the team.
Do you think any other teams will be able to surpass Red Bull in the 2023 season? Let us know in the comment section below.
