Lando Norris heads into the final six races of the season occupying the ‘best of the rest’ spot in the Drivers’ Championship, with the Brit currently sitting P7 with a comfortable 22-point-lead over eighth-placed Esteban Ocon.
It’s been a frustrating season for the McLaren driver, with the Woking-based side having taken a step backwards since the introduction of the new aerodynamic regulations.
After a couple of seasons occasionally batting for podiums amongst the frontrunners, McLaren have truly returned to the midfield this year, with the papaya side fifth in the Constructors’ Standings.
Norris has finished seventh at five of the last six races, a position that is probably starting to annoy the Brit.
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Whilst the going has been tough this year, Norris has still claimed a podium this year, earlier in the season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The 22-year-old hasn’t come close to another podium or a possible victory at any other venue, with the trauma of the 2021 Russian Grand Prix appearing to have been the McLaren driver’s big chance of winning his first F1 race.
Norris was on track to win at Sochi last season, before a late downpour and a bad strategic call saw Norris slide off the circuit, after failing to pit for Intermediate tyres at the correct time.
If it wasn’t for the rain, Norris would’ve won, something which happens very rarely for a midfield team driver.
Despite the disappointment of this year and having blown his chance last season, Norris knows that all he can do is be patient and wait, with the McLaren driver believing he “can’t really complain”.
“You have to,” said Norris to Sky Sports F1.
“I don’t think you can do too much else. You can’t really complain.
“I still have an opportunity in Formula 1. I still feel that when I’ve driven P6 or P7 sometimes I’ve driven the best race of my life, or I’ve done my best lap in qualifying and I’m P8 or P9.
“You have to realise that was your goal and objective for the day – have you done the best lap you could have done? Have you put everything together?
“And if you have, that’s what you’ve got to be happy with, no matter if it’s for P10, P5, P6 or whatever.”
In a recent interview, Norris explained how championship leader Max Verstappen has had an “easy season”, despite having won 11 of the 16 completed races this season.
The Brit is aware that its simply part of the game that some drivers can win easily depending on their situation, with the Quadrant founder recognising that whilst it’s “frustrating” he just needs to have “faith” in what he’s doing.
“That’s part of going into Formula 1, that sometimes you know you might not win a race for one, two, three, five, 10 years, that your opportunity might come in 12 years even, or something like that,” added the Briton.
“I guess it’s frustrating at times because you feel like you’ve deserved more at certain periods, no matter how much hard work you put in, and so on.
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“You can have a guy that can have the easiest race, chill for the whole race and win a race, and then there’s you sweating and having the hardest race of your life, and finishing P8.
“So never hard feelings against anyone else because they are probably deserving to be in that position.
“You just have to have faith that in a few years, or whatever, a few races, you’ll have your opportunity.”