McLaren’s Lando Norris has had an impressive start to the 2024 F1 season.
Channel 4 pundit and former junior racing rival of Lando Norris, Billy Monger, believes his fellow Brit has to become a multi-time World Champion if he is to realise his potential.
It had been a long time coming, but at last, Norris can call himself a Formula 1 race winner after unleashing a stellar performance in the upgraded McLaren MCL38 to win the Miami Grand Prix.
‘Lando Norris will be disappointed if not multi-time champion’
Although Norris benefited from the opportune arrival of a Safety Car, luck did not play a part in his successful defense of the lead against Max Verstappen from Red Bull. After the race resumed, Norris skillfully maintained his position and left Verstappen behind, ultimately crossing the finish line as the winner.
After the race in Miami, Verstappen openly expressed his joy in being surpassed by Lando. While several fellow racers were patiently waiting to extend their congratulations, Monger, who had competed against Norris in the British junior racing divisions, commented that this highlighted Verstappen’s character and skill.
Monger referred to Norris’ delighted rivals, stating, “In my opinion, Lando embodies that charming character.”
“He possesses a remarkable ability to avoid making enemies within the paddock. His amiable nature has won over the hearts of everyone, especially the drivers who hold immense respect for his exceptional skills.”
“It’s quite unexpected that he has taken this long to achieve victory considering his exceptional skills. The overwhelming warmth, celebrations, and embrace from everyone around him only highlight his incredible talent.”
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Monger commented that Norris has transformed from a “raw talent” to a well-rounded driver, and he believes that if Norris doesn’t achieve multiple World Championship titles in his career, it would be considered a disappointment.
Monger expressed, “Right from the beginning, I believe Lando possessed an innate and unpolished talent. Once he entered Formula 1, that raw talent was immediately evident.”
“I am somewhat taken aback by how he has managed to polish his skills. In my opinion, he has evolved into a complete driver, one whom I anticipate to dominate Formula 1 in the coming years. I firmly believe that by the end of his career, he will have numerous World Championships to his name.”
“If he does not possess multiple World Championships, I believe he would feel dissatisfied.”
Despite McLaren introducing extensive upgrades in Miami, not many anticipated Norris to showcase such an impressive performance. Monger stated that McLaren’s speed took everyone by surprise, including Verstappen.
Monger expressed his surprise at the impressive race pace of the McLaren, noting that even before the pit stop, Lando’s teammate, Checo Perez, seemed to yield the way, allowing Lando to unleash his speed.
“He was leading the race with the fastest lap until he skillfully employed the Safety Car to his advantage and secured the first position.”
The race pace of the McLaren on that particular occasion surprised everyone, including Max. Typically, in such a scenario, we would anticipate Max overtaking Lando. In several previous races, we witnessed instances where Red Bull’s strategy didn’t quite work out. However, today, Lando showcased exceptional performance, and his pace was truly remarkable.
If Miami was an indication of what’s to come, Norris might still have a chance in the F1 2024 Drivers’ Championship despite his 53-point deficit to the current leader Verstappen.
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