Shanghai (dpa) – Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris believes there is still a long road ahead before he can seriously think about winning his first title. “I hope we can keep improving and make things easier,” the British McLaren driver said ahead of the second race of the season in Shanghai on Sunday. “But there’s nothing to celebrate yet.”
The 25-year-old secured victory in the season opener in Australia last weekend, marking the first time in his career that he leads the overall standings ahead of reigning world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull. “Was it good? Yes. Was it perfect? No,” Norris commented on his strong start in Melbourne during an official press conference in China.
Verstappen “Not Far Behind”
“The car is difficult to drive, even though it’s competitive. It needs to be more predictable and a bit more comfortable to handle,” said the five-time Grand Prix winner, who expects Verstappen to be his main rival again this season. “Red Bull is still fast, and they’re definitely not far behind,” Norris added. However, Verstappen himself recently expressed concerns about Red Bull’s gap to McLaren.
Despite leading the standings, Norris insists that his approach remains unchanged. “I had a good weekend, but everyone needs to calm down,” he said in response to rising expectations. “I won’t even think about the championship until at least halfway through the season.”
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