(Motorsport-Total.com) – McLaren driver Lando Norris has achieved his biggest career goal: The 26-year-old Brit was crowned Formula 1 World Champion last year, putting the famous icing on the cake of his career. But could he have possibly lost his motivation as a result?
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“No, because my motivation is a part of it,” Norris answers when asked if he needs to change his previous approach or possibly set new goals for the future. “I love winning. I want to win. I want to be on the top step.”
Nevertheless, a difficult time could lie ahead for the eleven-time Grand Prix winner. Because at the start of the new Formula 1 era, McLaren does not yet seem as competitive as Mercedes or Ferrari, which could make it difficult for Norris to defend his World Championship title. But even that seems to hardly impress the new World Champion.
“My motivation is not exclusively success,” says the McLaren driver. “Every time I go to the start, I naturally want to win, but my motivation for winning is not success itself and the sole feeling of holding the trophy in my hands or winning, whatever it may be.”
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Norris: My team and the people motivate me
“Certainly it’s easy for some people to rely on that,” Norris believes. “It’s easy to rely so much on the pleasure of being up there and things like that. I love it and I’m sure every single driver loves being on the podium to win and celebrate.”
“My motivation to work, perform well and get better naturally starts with the vision of wanting to win,” the McLaren driver admits and adds: “But ultimately it’s my team and the people around me.”
“Those are the people I want to perform well for,” Norris clarifies and emphasizes that nothing has changed in his fundamental motivation due to the World Championship success or the new balance of power. “As long as I have them, nothing changes for me.”
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