Forever forward: Norris still 'learning and improving'

McLaren’s Lando Norris says he still remains firmly committed to continuous learning and improvement in F1, even on the back of a remarkable 2023 season during which he accumulated more points and podium finishes than ever before.

As he prepares for his sixth season at the pinnacle of motorsport, Norris is ready once again to embrace every opportunity to expand his skillset and refine his racing prowess.

The 24-year-old’s abiding dedication to self-improvement and accountability has been a cornerstone of Norris's rise to prominence.

His refusal to rest on his laurels and his willingness to publicly take ownership of his mistakes have distinguished him as a true competitor, earning him the respect and admiration of fans and peers alike.

Mistakes are inevitable in the high-pressure environment of Formula 1, but just as wears his honesty on his sleeve, Norris expects the same candor in return from his McLaren colleagues.

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• Piastri: Open communication with Norris key to McLaren success

Speaking in an interview published on the McLaren website, Norris was asked what he had learned during his impressive season and how he had improved.

“There's a lot of things that I've learned from a driving perspective and teamwork perspective,” He replied. “For example, even more openness, I think we put quite a bit of effort in as a team in this area.

“When working with my engineers, in terms of being very open with one another, that is not something new or something I have only just learned, it is something I have always done and continue to do.

“I just prefer the honest truth. I would rather have the brutal, honest truth.

“If I suck, tell me I suck. If I’m good, tell me I’m good. It is not always easy to do, but it is very important, and we will continue to do this to teach and help other people.”

McLaren’s resurgence last year began with the introduction of an upgrade package in Spielberg, Austria. Up to that point, Norris only had 12 points to his name.

But from Spielberg, there was no looking back. The Briton amassed 193 points over the subsequent 14 races, more than any other driver in the field save for Max Verstappen.

His points haul included seven grand prix podiums and two Sprint podiums, not to mention a Sprint pole in São Paulo.

However, he faced stiff competition in the second part of the year from his McLaren teammate and F1 rookie Oscar Piastri.

“Oscar had an incredible season,” Lando replied when asked whether he was able to learn anything from the Aussie. “Keeping calm and being yourself, it’s good to be reminded of that.

“I think he's been very, very good at dealing with pressure, better than I feel like I remember I was when I started, but I think that’s because everyone's very different with all of this - dealing with pressure and remaining calm and chilled.

“I think that is something that I've gotten a lot better with over the years – I know how to deal with all of these things much better myself now. I have a lot of respect for Oscar in how he was able to stay so calm in a new environment, in Formula 1, on the big stage.”

McLaren team boss Andrea Stella said recently that he is confident that his team can carry its momentum and improvement rate into the new season, especially as the Woking-based outfit is now functioning with its full tech department in formation following the arrivals of Rob Marshall from Red Bull and David Sanchez from Ferrari.

“We’re on the right track,” Norris said as he explained what McLaren as a whole had taken away from 2023.

“We’ve learned so [much] really over the last four, five, six months. So the progress we’ve made, we’ve learned a lot.

“We have some new hirings coming in, and although not everything that they can bring to us will be on the car straight away, there are some things that we already know now.

“I’m excited because we’re finally on the right track, and we know in which direction to push, and I just want to start the season off well. If we can start well in Bahrain, I’ll be much more excited.”

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