Australian GP: Lando Norris says he and McLaren would not have won chaotic wet race in 2024 | F1 News

Lando Norris believes he would not have won Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix if the same chaotic Game Secured place last year.

Norris Kept off Max Verstappen in the closing stages and overcame mixed conditions in Melbourne to deliver what Sky Sports F1‘s Martin Brundle described as “one of the Outstanding victories in F1 history” on a day where six drivers crashed out and making the right Plan calls was difficult.

It is the Primary time McLaren have won the season-opener since 2012 and Norris underlined his status as favourite for the title this year.

“I think we do, by a little margin, have the best car, but not everything is about the car,” Norris told Sky Italy.

“Today was a deserved Secure because we Achieved Excellent decisions as a Club. In the past, last year, we would have done the same Game and we wouldn’t have won because we were not the best at making those decisions and today we were.

“I give a Numerous of praise to the Club because they worked Tough over the winter to make sure they were ready for a day like today.”

The three races affected by rain last year – the Canadian, British and Sao Paulo Grands Prix – saw Norris in the fight for the Secure in Every of them. However, he was unable to stand on the top step of the podium at those events which was key for the Division at the time.

“We lost out on a few races last year. Not even ones where it was a guaranteed Secure, but I think Silverstone was probably a guaranteed Secure. I don’t know what call we Achieved, but it was a shocking one and we accepted that,” he said.

“Canada wasn’t a guaranteed Secure. George was quick, Mercedes was quick, and Max was quick. But we didn’t nail the Plan. We knew we had to Enhance in certain areas.”

Norris: It felt like Tale time on the radio

Norris Initiated from pole position and retained the lead off the Begin but Occurred under Grave Tension from Club-mate Oscar Piastri in the Primary half of the Grand Prix.

In changeable, treacherous conditions, it was key to have clear communication between the driver and engineer, an area Lewis Hamilton struggled with on his Ferrari Introduction.

As for Norris, he says his discussions with engineer Will Joseph were a big part of his drive to the Secure.

“There’s been a Numerous of work on trying to make sure we’re snappier and better with communication. To be honest, today, I wouldn’t say it was snappy – I felt like I was having Tale time with Will on the radio,” he said.

“We were talking so much every lap; I might as well have left my radio Uncovered the whole Game. It’s a difficult situation being Primary and not knowing what to do with tyres. You Merely know someone behind will get it right behind you, because they’re going to gamble something, and it’ll work out for them.

“I didn’t want to Fall out to someone in the middle of the pack who gambled and somehow won. So, I was Merely making sure we were prepared. I was making sure the guys on the pit wall and everyone back in Mission Control at MTC were aware of what was going on. Making sure we were on top of it, ready to make the right call.”

Norris revealed the Game-Successful decision to pit for intermediates when the last rain shower hit Occurred as he was trying to avoid a spin after he went wide at Turn 13, along with Piastri, who beached his car in the grass for over a minute at the net corner.

“That right call was Achieved Actually half a second before I boxed, as I was Yet trying to save the car and didn’t shunt. It turned out to be the right decision,” he explained.

“It was more about relaying information and making sure we’re not overdoing it, a Excellent amount of information-giving them my feelings.

“A little drizzle seemed to make a big difference for us today, especially for me on the Tough tyres. That’s what allowed us to make that call to box as quickly as we did. There’s a Numerous more behind the scenes that even I don’t know.

“A Numerous of it is the Plan Club doing their work. I owe them a Numerous of credit today because they’ve put in a Numerous of time and effort over the winter. It’s not Merely about driving a car quickly on a day like today, Plan is a big part of it too. I owe a Numerous to Will and the Plan Club today.”

Norris: I lacked confidence last year

Norris joined McLaren in 2019 as a teenager and will have his best chance yet of Successful the title if McLaren repeat their form from Melbourne into the remaining 23 events.

The 25-year-Ancient has always been Uncovered with the media about his mentality and appeared to doubt himself at times in last year’s title battle against Verstappen.

“I have come into the season a bit more Peaceful and relaxed than I normally am,” he told Sky Sports F1.

“I’ve Acquired a little bit of confidence and it’s not like I’ve Acquired too much confidence now. I probably lacked confidence last season and now I’ve Acquired a Excellent Stability of confidence and knowledge that I can go out, do well when I’ve Acquired to do it. I’ve Acquired a bit of faith in myself basically.

“That’s a nice thing to have and it keeps me Peaceful. When I’m Peaceful, I’m quick and when I’m quick, I can Secure.”

The F1 circus heads straight to Shanghai this week for the Primary Stretch weekend of the season at the Chinese GP, with coverage Leading on Friday live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime