Norris highlights ‘statistical truth’ after past struggles

Lando Norris is in no doubt he is performing at a higher level this F1 season than last term - believing he has the statistics to back it up.

McLaren driver Norris has driven superbly so far this season, resulting in the Briton scoring his maiden grand prix victory at the 110th attempt and sitting second in the drivers' standings, 78 points behind three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen.

Norris has also scored an additional seven podiums, which should have been eight but for his late-race collision with Verstappen in the Austrian Grand Prix that forced him into retirement.

The 24-year-old has also scored two pole positions, and from the 14 races to date, has an average grid slot of 3.6.

"The season so far has probably been a better season than I had last year, and I'm not talking from a performance point of view," he said, speaking in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.

"Do I feel like I've delivered more often in qualifying and races? I think yes. Statistically, that's also true."

Norris now 'more comfortable' with McLaren

To further his claim, Norris states that this year he feels "more comfortable with the car than last year".

Following a difficult start to last season, which was pre-empted by McLaren in pre-season, the team delivered on its upgrade promise and from the Austrian GP onwards the cars were transformed.

Plentiful updates have been supplied this year, but through them all, Norris has had to adapt to the requirements of the car beneath him, and this has also improved him as a driver.

"There were times when I questioned how I needed to drive the car and in what way, and the driving style needed, and that kind of thing," said Norris.

"Whether or not I've been with McLaren for five, six years has absolutely...it has relevance for certain things, but does it mean I could drive the car better last year? No.

"The car has been changing so much over the last year and a half, and I've had to adapt quite a bit on how to drive the car, and what driving style is needed.

"I struggled quite a bit through last year in maximising every qualifying, and the way I was driving was just not right.

"I feel like I'm doing a better job this year of understanding it and staying within the limitations of what I need to deliver on."