Norris: My role is to lead the team.
At the beginning of the season, the new McLaren car was lacking in both speed and reliability, but the team gradually resolved its issues, and now it has two victories to its name, consecutively won by Lando Norris in Hungary and the Netherlands.
The reigning world champion extended his contract with McLaren until 2030, which was announced last Saturday, and while speaking with the British press, he shared how he uses his authority to help the team return to its former level. Moreover, according to him, he is currently driving better than last season when he won the title.
“With the years, you start to understand when it’s worth expressing your opinion and when it’s not,” Lando shared in an interview with Sky Sports. “If we talk about the influence a driver has as a team member, in the early years I tried not to cross a certain line. This includes the fact that I definitely try to ensure my voice doesn’t sound louder than others.
But over time, you come to realize that my role is not just about driving the car. It’s also about being a leader and guiding the team. Can I speak on behalf of everyone who works at McLaren? How can I act so that people strive for ever higher results? Of course, I also have to push myself…
I just realized what power and authority I can have to influence the direction of the team’s development. Of course, this should not be abused, but at the same time, I know that I hold an influential position where I can get what I want – from the car, from the team, from my surroundings.
All of this is very important, and any athlete should use it – regardless of the sport they compete in. You need to understand how to act to get what you want. And I feel that I am currently in a very favorable position, working with the people around me, with my team, with specialists in various roles.
All of this shapes the team’s work culture, and this ultimately turns out to be the most important thing.”
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Norris: My role is to lead the team.
Lando Norris talked about how he uses his authority to try to help the team get back to the level it was at in the previous two years...
