Exclusive: F1 icon reveals how Norris 'surprised himself' in 2024

Mario Andretti believes Lando Norris "surprised himself" with how he was able to battle Max Verstappen in the 2024 F1 season. 

Norris claimed his first four grand prix victories to help guide McLaren to the constructors' championship as he emerged as Verstappen's closest rival in the drivers' contest. 

Verstappen ultimately prevailed by 63 points, wrapping the title up in Las Vegas as he also came out on top in all of the wheel-to-wheel battles between the pair, bar Mexico City where he got 20 seconds worth of time penalties from the stewards.

One area Norris struggled in throughout the season was with his race starts, usually botching his launch and losing position off the line, but in the Abu Dhabi finale, he held his nerve to deliver McLaren's first constructors' title since 1998.

Reflecting on Norris's breakthrough year, 1978 world champion Andretti believes "sleepness nights" was key to the Briton's development.

"Lando has done an incredible job, and he's really brought some real interest to Formula 1 by being able to challenge Max directly, and I think in some ways, he surprised himself with his performance," Andretti exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"But also, a lot of kudos needs to be given to McLaren for providing the equipment because it is not only Lando, it is Oscar also showing the capability.

"Lando, like anyone, like any young driver that reaches the top level with this type of potential success, he has to totally understand where he is at, and you could tell that at the beginning, his starts were not the best.

"But he is working on it, and he has a few kicks here and there, and I am sure he will have had a couple of sleepness nights to figure it out, but this is all part of coming into your own as a driver.

"You need to handle high-pressure situations and so it is all coming to him and I see clear world championship material in both Lando and Oscar quite honestly.

"When you are capable of winning races at this level, you have to have, and show something tangible, to bring to the team."