Norris refutes F1 'ego' opinion

Lando Norris has denied the viewpoint he has too big of an ego, asserting he finds the perception “weird”.

Norris found himself in the spotlight this season in battling Max Verstappen for the F1 drivers' championship after McLaren developed its car into a consistent challenger for race wins.

The 25-year-old ultimately failed in his quest, but with four victories to his name, he helped McLaren secure its first constructors' championship for the first time in 26 years.

During the campaign, Norris was occasionally criticised and dealt with various fan comments on social media, including the claim he had developed an ego.

Norris has shut down the suggestion that he holds himself in high regard. “I find it's a little bit weird because I read all those things,” he said.

“Certain things, I don't understand how people have got that perception. And that's when I always have to come back to the people who know me who know that isn't the case.

“When people think my ego is too big or something, it couldn't be further from the truth, especially when I'm driving.

“Maybe sometimes I choose the wrong words or something, and people somehow use that against me.”

Norris theorises reason for public opinion

During his early years in F1, Norris was often a character delivering jokes and humour in front of the camera.

The Briton has suggested his lack of such larks of late could be a reason why people have now commented on how he carries himself.

“I think there are more and more people in the world who either don't want to listen to the truth, and sometimes when I say the truth or facts people just don't want to agree with them, or they want to disagree and kind of prove me wrong,” he said.

“I find it odd as I feel like I haven't changed. Maybe I have in certain things…definitely, some things have changed.

“I definitely don't go around and joke and laugh as much as I used to, and I think people loved that and maybe don't like it as much now I don't.”