Norris is still hungry: “I achieved my life goal, but I still want to win”

It is a decidedly serene Lando Norris who presents himself to the press, including FormulaPassion, met at a conference organized by McLaren. The Englishman achieved what he himself defined as his life goal, but that does not affect his motivation to repeat himself. Lando’s desire is to win as many titles as possible, now strengthened by that unique awareness of being world champion. Norris speaks about his lifelong dream a few days after the Barcelona tests, where he drove with the number 1 stamped on his McLaren: “Seeing it on the car for the first time, on the helmet or on the suit, makes you realize and brings back all the memories. It’s as if, seeing it on something, it was finally reality.” But beware of thinking that the Briton intends to rest on his laurels: “I see myself in Formula 1 for many more years and I still want to try to win as many titles as possible. If I never succeeded again, I would still be happy. I have dedicated the last 20 years since karting to achieving what we achieved last year together with the team, my family and my group of friends. After so much effort and a lot of time, now it’s done.” “I believe that few people manage to achieve their goal in life, but that’s what happened. So if you ever see me not smiling, punch me and remind me. I achieved my life goal and I’m very happy, as well as proud. It’s something I will always carry with me.” The imperative for 2026, therefore, is to live it with more serenity, while maintaining the usual determination: “I don’t feel anything different in view of this season, I still want to go out there and win. If I didn’t conquer anything else, I would still have something that I’m very proud of. I know it’s a great achievement, but it certainly hasn’t taken away my ambition or desire to do it again, nor does it make me approach this season as if I didn’t care.” A new awareness For someone like Norris who has not yet hidden a sense of strong self-criticism, racing with the number 1 on the car can only increase his confidence in his own abilities: “My motivation to win is exactly the same. I certainly haven’t lost anything, if anything I’m even more confident. In the past I’ve said that I’m a person who has to see something to believe it, especially if it has to do with me. Did I think I could get a pole or win a race? When I did it, I realized I could do it. For some reason, it’s the way I think and believe about things. I certainly improved in many aspects last year from a mental preparation point of view, in experiencing the good moments, the bad moments and everything in between.” To those who ask him if he thinks that Schumacher, Hamilton or Verstappen also had this mentality after their first world championship, Lando replies: “I have to find my way, without ignoring what others have done in the past, but simply by understanding what motivates me. As I have said before, a good part of my motivation does not come from imagining myself on the top step of the podium with another trophy in hand, but from being part of a team, allowing them to keep the trophies, celebrate and this kind of thing. I worry too much about what other people thought [piloti]. My motivation is as high as always: to try to win and make my team proud.” Respect from colleagues According to Norris, however, something has changed since that night in Abu Dhabi and it is the relationship with the other drivers: “I feel as if there is that extra bit of respect that comes from having won something. I think people who know you know that it takes a lot to achieve what we achieved last season. That’s the point, it’s like it gives you an extra bonus. It’s not required, but it’s something that comes with that. I actually haven’t talked to many other drivers. I heard from Alex the other day [Albon] and George [Russell]mainly because we play padel together. I don’t know, but I think that especially for them, who arrived in Formula 1 with me at the same time, this increased the hunger to win even more, in particular for George, who is the bookmakers’ favourite.”