The buzz surrounding Lando Norris is unmistakable. Fresh from his commanding victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver heads into his home race at Silverstone as the highest-ranked Briton in the championship standings.
But despite his momentum and massive fan support, the 24-year-old is playing down suggestions that he is now Britain’s number one driver.
Norris is just 15 points adrift from championship leader and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, but sits well ahead of fellow Brits George Russell in fourth position and Lewis Hamilton in sixth.
But when asked if he now considers himself Britain’s ‘number one driver’, Norris chuckled and deflected the title with a nod to the sport’s history and his own aspirations.
“I mean, theoretically… I’m not even going to say it,” he said, laughing. “I have the best chance of winning the race, I would say, and of course the one who's most likely fighting for the Championship this season.”
Despite the numbers pointing in his favour, Norris made it clear he doesn’t see his position as definitive.
“Am I British number one? I don’t know. I don’t know how much you take history into account. I think if you still take history into account, then Lewis is quite convincingly at the top.
“A lot more race wins and poles and championships than anyone else really, put together.”
Indeed, Hamilton’s legacy remains unmatched. The seven-time world champion has dominated the British Grand Prix for more than a decade, securing nine wins at Silverstone – including a memorable triumph with Mercedes just last year in 2024 – and finishing on the podium every year since 2014.
Norris, now in his sixth F1 season, has made enormous strides, both in terms of consistency and maturity on and off the track. Yet he was quick to deflect the growing narrative positioning him as Britain’s new motorsport leader.
“So, maybe I’m the favourite of the weekend from a British point of view, but I don’t know,” he added. “That’s your job to put the numbers on people, not mine. It would be nice. That’s my goal.
“It’s the same as it is with any sportsman in whatever series they are – tennis, golf. You want to be number one, but I would say I’ve not proven myself to be that yet, but it’s something I’m working on.”
Norris' measured response reflects a grounded mindset, even as he finds himself increasingly in the spotlight – both for his performances and for the hopes of a nation looking for its next F1 superstar.
Speaking about the excitement of racing at home, Norris shared how much the build-up to Silverstone means to him personally, especially after his recent win in Austria.
“I mean, I’m very excited for everything. Every day is one to look forward to,” he said. “Of course, the driving on track is still the best bit, but I’ve already done some stuff this morning. We did Trafalgar Square yesterday, which was pretty special. I went over to the stands earlier this morning.”
“So, plenty of things for me to look forward to. All good things, all exciting things, more like a positive distraction more than anything else.
“So, it’s good. And, of course, coming off Austria is a nice feeling too. So, ready to get going.”
As the British Grand Prix weekend unfolds, eyes will naturally be on Norris – not only to see if he can deliver another big performance at home but also to assess whether Britain’s humble contender may, quietly, be forging his own legacy among the nation’s Formula 1 greats.
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