Button: Maiden F1 win won’t change the way Norris goes racing

©McLaren

Jenson Button believes the core of Lando Norris’ racing style will not change following the McLaren driver’s break-through F1 triumph in last Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix.

Thanks to a flawless drive and to an equally impeccable strategy call by the McLaren pitwall during the race’s Safety Car period, Norris put that elusive first win in Formula 1 under his belt.

From the race’s restart on lap 32 of 57, the 23-year-old dominated proceedings, beating championship leader Max Verstappen to the checkered flag by a comfortable seven-second margin.

The milestone win – achieved after the Briton’s 110th Grand Prix start – marks a significant turning point in Norris' career, and many are curious how it might impact his approach to the sport.

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Button, a former McLaren driver who himself experienced a lengthy wait for his first F1 win, which he enjoyed in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, was asked after the race in Miami how the long-awaited accomplishment will change Norris in the future.

“The only thing that it does change is you’ve won a race and that memory sticks with you forever,” said the Sky F1 commentator.

“You still need the car to perform and to get the result again. For me it took three years, hopefully for him it won’t take that long to win a second race.

“It doesn’t change the way he’s going to go racing. He’s a confident driver. He’s very skilled and he’s a team player.

“I expect to see him winning more over the years to come and I just hope it’s sooner rather than later so we can have a fight between Red Bull and McLaren.”

Button's fellow Sky F1 pundit Danica Patrick agreed with her colleague, doubting that Norris will “change a whole lot” given that his win was long overdue.

Sometimes you learn how to win,” commented the former IndyCar charger. “You have the right mentality for it and everybody pictures you that way, seeing you that way which can have its own momentum and energy.

“I am not sure it really changes a whole lot because we saw it coming.

“He’s almost won many times and everybody believes he’s going to win so many more, eventually a championship. The beginning of something really fun.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.