After more than a century of Formula 1 starts, McLaren star Lando Norris is finally a Grand Prix winner.
After driving perfectly throughout the Miami Grand Prix, the 24-year-old will be hoping to kick on and make sure he doesn’t have to wait for another five seasons before standing on the top step of the podium again.
Speaking on the Inside the Piranha Club Podcast, journalist Ben Hunt was praising the McLaren driver after his latest performance.
Lando Norris has been one of the quickest drivers on the grid for some time now.
However, he’s gone to another level in 2024 and while his teammate Oscar Piastri is improving, the Brit has opened up a healthy gap over the sophomore in the Drivers’ Championship.
However, that’s not just down to his natural talent and Hunt has shared that Norris spends more time at McLaren’s factory than any other driver he’s come across in Formula 1.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from height and parents to celebration
Lando Norris in the McLaren factory more than ‘any other driver’
For many young drivers in Formula 1 or working their way up through the ranks, racing is no longer just their job.
The likes of Max Verstappen spend hours sim racing in their spare time and honing their skills before each race weekend.
Creating a strong relationship with your team is also just as important and something that McLaren are putting a real emphasis on.
Zak Brown promoted Andrea Stella to team principal because he wanted him to create an improved relationship between every faction of the team.
The Italian former engineer has been fantastic for the team and McLaren are going from strength to strength under his leadership.
Norris appears to spend more time in McLaren’s Woking-based factory than any other driver in any team.
That dedication will hopefully rub off on Piastri with McLaren putting together their best package for some time.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
Lando Norris’s hard work pays off after Miami Grand Prix victory
Talking about what’s happening at McLaren’s factory, Hunt said: “He’s [Andrea Stella] very hands-on, he’s obviously come from Italy but is fully integrated into the team.
“He spends all his time working in the factory, not going home. We’ve seen it before with team bosses and we’re seeing it right now where most of them spend their time in different countries as opposed to where the team is based.
“It’s really good to see him being so hands-on and I think that’s respected by the drivers.”
“You need to remember that when Lando [Norris] came through, he moved to Woking to be close to the team deliberately, so he could be hands-on, learn the ropes, spend some time in the factory.
“More time than any other driver I’ve known, of course, he appreciates the hard work that goes in, so obviously puts it in himself.”
Norris is in a buoyant mood right now and he celebrated his first win by visiting the McLaren factory after the race.
The challenge now is for Norris and McLaren to kick on and Imola will give the team a much better understanding of whether their advantage over Ferrari and Red Bull was a one-off or if they’re now serious title challengers.
Martin Brundle made comparisons between Norris and Ayrton Senna after the race which shows just how important that victory was for the 24-year-old.
Even on the team radio during the race, as he approached his first-ever win, Norris sounded cool, calm and collected and was acting like a seasoned veteran.
McLaren fans will hope he continues to put in performances like his race in Miami for many years to come in papaya.
The post ‘Need to remember’: Journalist explains what Lando Norris does more than ‘any other driver’ in Formula 1 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.