Lando Norris: I know what they are capable of at McLaren.

      Lando Norris arrived at Silverstone as the reigning world champion and shared his expectations...

      Question: Lando, what is it like to race at home as the reigning world champion?

      Lando Norris: It's really cool! No, it's great to race here every year. The title doesn't make everything better or worse. It's nice to perform in front of fans, friends, family, and team members. I've always enjoyed it since 2019 when I first came here, but now, after last year's race and championship win, I arrived a bit more relaxed, not feeling the pressure of needing to win my home Grand Prix for the first time. Although now I want to do it again!

      Question: After a strong race in Spain, things didn't go as well in Austria. What are you expecting from Silverstone?

      Lando Norris: Honestly, I don't know. We'll see what happens. I actually don't think we performed worse in Austria than in Spain; the competitors just changed. On Sunday, we were faster than Ferrari but slower than Red Bull. The situation around us is changing, and we're not as strong as we'd like to be, so we're less optimistic than last year, but we still want to fight for the podium and earn points.

      Question: How did you feel about the news that Max Verstappen's manager had talks with McLaren?

      Lando Norris: Many drivers want to move to McLaren. I don't understand why you're only highlighting Max. I know many others want to move too. Yes, it's cool. It's great that a four-time world champion wants to join our team. I don't know how true it is, but if so, that's awesome. If there's a chance to work with other people, I'm looking forward to it. But for now, it's not the case. I'm also curious about how my future with McLaren will unfold. I'm planning to race for this team for many more years, no matter who my teammate is. Right now it's Oscar, we get along great and are happy to work together. I hope it stays that way. For now, we're fully focused on working with the team.

      Question: In the morning, the fans gave you a standing ovation. Did you think to yourself that you'd try to repeat what you did for them last year?

      Lando Norris: Let me just say "yes" to give them hope. You don't need to be an expert to see that we're not in the shape we were last year. And I'm not confident that we'll repeat something like that. But it's a home race, and you always want to perform better. In recent years, Silverstone has suited our car. So, of course, I want to say "yes." The support from the fans gives us strength, and I want to put on a show for them.

      Question: You've created one of the coolest and trendiest personal brands in motorsport, from your website to LN4 merchandise – we saw that the queues at your store were just crazy this morning. How well do you understand this yourself?

      Lando Norris: I run all of this! I handle everything: production, design, social media, and driving. No, of course, I have a very good team. Three or four years ago, I didn't have a brand. There was no design, color, or personality to share through clothing, posts, etc. It's hard to tell any story with anything, but now we're doing it. And I'm very happy about it. Compared to last year, this business has almost doubled. I have a great team around me that supports me in everything and knows this world very well. I'm great with the racing car; I leave the rest to their discretion. But I'm always involved in the design process, schemes, storytelling, and I understand what fans really want. I love being a part of this. I wouldn't say I'm a leader in any of these situations, but I like being involved since it concerns me. After all, it's still me. So I need to convey my personality, my colors in a way that appeals to both people and my fans.

      Question: Has returning home as the world champion significantly changed your life?

      Lando Norris: Every year spent in Formula 1 changes your life; you gain more fans. And that has always pleased me. This morning I told someone that this is really the place where you feel at home. You want to stay here forever. And it's a truly special feeling. Compared to last year, there are more fans, and I'm recognized more often on the streets. It seems that people are more interested in your personal life than the work you do, but that's the world we live in. And I don't want anything to change, honestly. I enjoy organizing my personal life and spending it with friends, playing golf, traveling, and spending time with my family, brother, and sisters in various places. I love enjoying my life outside of Formula 1, and I feel like I'm living an incredible life. And I'm very lucky to have the life I already have.

      Question: Some drivers are very concerned about the need to conserve energy on the lap at Silverstone. How will this race change with the new regulations?

      Lando Norris: We'll see. I'm sure Sunday’s race will be interesting. In recent years, our cars have been very fast here; now it won't be as difficult in Copse as in previous years, in Maggots and Becketts the speeds will drop a bit, although they'll still be fast. But the main thing is for the spectators to enjoy it. In the car, the sensations might not be exactly what the drivers would like; we will still have some areas where we need to brake longer, but that's just the reality of today. Everything will be fine. It's still Silverstone. We're still in Formula 1. We have nothing to complain about!

      Question: Oscar said that the MCL40 needs to increase speed and grip to fight for wins in the second half of the season. Are you confident that the team can achieve this?

      Lando Norris: I'm optimistic because I know the team is behind me. I know what McLaren is capable of. I know what each employee is capable of. I know there's a team around me that can turn things around for the better, a team that knows how to win world championships. And that's all I really need to know. I'm still confident that this year we can get on the podium and win. It won't be easy, but that's part of our sport, part of our struggle. Our goal is to maximize every weekend. We realistically assess the current situation, but we look to the future with optimism, which I'm definitely very happy about.

      Question: Lando, is there anything you learned last year that you're using this year? And in the context of the rumors about Max, do you feel that you could beat anyone on the grid, whether it's Max or someone else, in the same car?

      Lando Norris: I definitely feel I've improved compared to last year. Moreover, it's a completely different car; you have to drive it differently. I feel like I've become a more complete driver. I adapt better to different situations, driving characteristics, and car specifications. And I truly believe that I can... I really believe that I can beat anyone. The most incredible thing about Max is his ability to perform at that level every weekend, every season. It's impressive. I think many can drive a fantastic lap and secure pole. But what makes a great driver is performing at a high level in every practice, every qualifying, every race. And that's something Max can do, probably better than almost anyone. Regardless of whether I get the chance to compete in the same team as Max, Lewis, or Fernando, I think it would be really cool. We'll see what the future holds.