Norris: Fighting fairly is ‘who I am as a racer’

Lando Norris has endured his fair share of on-track tensions lately with Max Verstappen, but the McLaren driver remains resolute in his clean approach to racing, emphasizing the importance of fair competition.

Even after their controversial clashes in Austin and Mexico City, where Verstappen received two 10-second penalties for forcing Norris off the track and gaining an unfair advantage, the Briton holds firm to his principles.

And the 24-year-old’s stance – marked by maturity and sportsmanship – is a refreshing reminder of the values that should underpin motorsport.

"I've always fought fairly," Norris stated last weekend in Mexico City, quoted by RacingNews365. "That's who I am. That's who I am as a racer. That's my way of driving every day."

Norris’ approach is not just a strategy, but a reflection of his character—a determination to win without compromising his values.

The three-time Grand Prix winner acknowledges that there are moments when his fairness might have cost him, but he sees it as a learning curve in a sport where finding the right balance is key.

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“Maybe sometimes I've lost out because I've been too fair and not aggressive enough, and that's where I have to find a better balance.

"And those are the things, the changes I've said I've had to change since Austin and the course of this year, that when you're racing these top guys, you learn things and you have to understand better these balances of attacking, defending, risk management, aggression, all of those types of things.”

Rather than focusing on his competitors' actions, Norris is committed to controlling his own race. He insists that his priority remains his own standards and the values he brings to the sport.

"For me, I don't need to worry about them. It's got nothing to do with me, in a way. I'll do what I can, I'll race fairly," he explained.

Still, the McLaren charger doesn’t shy away from the reality that racing at the highest level can be intense, and acknowledges that incidents like those in Mexico City might happen again.

But Norris remains optimistic about the spirit of competition.

"If he [Verstappen] doesn't, then things will go like they did. But I think he wants to race fairly. I hope he does. I think he enjoys those moments, too, when it's a fair battle."

As Norris continues to rise in the ranks, he stays true to himself and what he stands for as a racer.

"All I can do is keep doing what I'm doing. I feel like I'm doing a good job and we'll see what happens," he concluded.

It’s this self-assuredness and dedication to fair racing that have earned Norris admiration from fans and respect among his peers, making him not just a formidable competitor, but an exemplary ambassador for the sport.

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