|
McLaren, the second most successful team in
Formula One history in terms of race wins, have not won a title
since now-seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton took his
first in 2008.
Asked if McLaren could be championship contenders in a year's
time, Norris told Sky Sports television: "100%. And I'm saying
that still with my feet on the ground.
"As much as I said at the beginning of this year we can win
races, I want to believe and I should have the confidence to say
next year we can go for more, we can go for the next step."
Norris beat Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen by
7.6 seconds on Sunday after a safety car period fell to his
advantage. Verstappen had won four of the previous five rounds
this season.
Red Bull revealed after the race that the Dutch driver had
damaged the floor of his car when he hit a bollard.
"I'm sure something's changed, there's something inside that's
changed because I'm a race winner now, but at the same time it
doesn't change how I approach things. I'm still the same guy, I
still want to win more," said Norris.
He added that McLaren, currently third in the championship with
Ferrari second, could win more races this year.
"I think we're looking at an exciting season between us, Red
Bull, Ferrari. We still have work to do, we're not at the level
that they are just yet," he said.
Norris also expected the dynamic with Verstappen, a friend, to
change.
"I'm sure it will... we have respect for one another, we get
along. We're not best friends, we don't text each other every
day, but we just have a lot of respect," he said.
"I want to challenge him, I want to race against him, I want to
battle because I think he's one of the best drivers ever in
Formula One. So if I can prove myself against him I'm proving
myself against one of the best."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely
responsible for this content. |
|
