Lando Norris, the British driver from McLaren, was named the standout of the day at the China Grand Prix. Norris achieved an impressive second place in the race, adding another podium to McLaren’s tally. Despite the emotional nature of the weekend, Norris kept his composure and even made lighthearted jokes about his own bet. Before the race, Norris had bet that his team would finish 35 seconds behind Ferrari, but to his pleasant surprise, he ended up ahead of both Ferraris, which finished in fourth and fifth place. This unexpected result left Norris with a big smile on his face as he returned home.
During an interview with the press, Norris shared his thoughts on the bet, stating: “I made a bet on how far behind Ferrari we would finish today, I thought 35 seconds and I was very wrong!” This humorous comment highlighted the unpredictability of the race and the satisfaction Norris felt in surpassing his own expectations.
In addition to his impressive performance in the race, Norris was also awarded the Driver of the Day title. Throughout the weekend, he experienced highs and lows, from securing pole position in the sprint qualifying to facing challenges in the sprint race and ultimately securing second place in the main Grand Prix. These ups and downs contributed to the excitement and intensity of the weekend for Norris. As a result of his strong performance, Norris moved up in the 2024 Drivers’ Championship standings.
Looking to the future, Norris expressed optimism about his chances of achieving a victory in the near future. Despite not yet reaching a first place, he has consistently performed well by finishing in second or third place. Reflecting on his performance in Shanghai, Norris stated: “Max is doing a good job and Red Bull a great job, we can’t blame them. I believe we can get a win this year, I definitely feel it’s coming. I’m looking forward to Miami, it wasn’t my best track.” Norris’s positive outlook and determination to succeed indicate his strong belief in his own abilities.
Furthermore, Norris has always maintained a healthy rivalry with Max Verstappen and consistently praised the current world champion. McLaren also had a promising start in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, currently holding the third position. With more victories like this, McLaren has the potential to surpass Ferrari and establish itself as a dominant force in the championship.
