Lando Norris believes he could give Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen “a run for their money” in more equal cars.
The McLaren driver has been a standout performer in 2021, scoring points at every race and only finishing outside the top five once to sit fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Those results have earned Norris significant praise, with many claiming he is undoubtedly future world champion material, but what about Lando himself?
“I want to say yes but it doesn’t mean I’m just better than every driver on the grid or anything like that. I’m not saying that,” he was quoted by GPFans.
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“I just feel like with how I have done this season I am driving at a level that is capable of winning races and maybe one day a world championship.
“Maybe I’m not at the all-out level, but I feel I am doing a lot of things right and with some small improvements I can be a bit more confident in my answer.
“I’m at a level where I would say I could go up against Lewis or Max and – not say I could 100 per cent beat them – but I could give them a run for their money and I could give it a good effort.
“[But] it’s very difficult to know until you’re there and I’m not so much a guy who thinks that far ahead into the future,” he added.
Hamilton and Verstappen have also recognised Norris, with the Mercedes driver calling him “such a great driver” on the radio after their lengthy battle in Austria.
“It’s cool,” he told Sky Sports when asked about that comment. “To have that kind of respect and for him to say it, you know, it does mean a lot.
“I don’t know if he could say that because he admitted he wasn’t going to race us or had a problem or whatever.
“Maybe if we were racing fair and square maybe he wouldn’t have said it, I don’t know. But it’s kind words so I appreciate it.”
This year, Norris has also completely outclassed his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who is struggling to settle at McLaren.
However, the Australian does see comparisons between the 21-year-old this season and others who had a breakout year.
“I came in and he showed that he’s got skill and talent, I do think as well this year he’s made that third-year step,” Ricciardo said to Channel 4.
“I did it at Red Bull, I think Max did it as well, kind of cleaned up some of his mistakes in year three and then really rose to his potential, and I think Lando is doing that now.
“So I for now just have to tip my hat, acknowledge that he is driving very well, gelling very well with the team, and just try to use that to benefit me moving forward.
“Learn from him where he is doing things better, use those things to ultimately make me a better driver.”