Lando Norris believes he now has what it takes to win the Formula 1 world drivers’ championship despite admitting he “definitely wasn’t at the level I needed to be at” earlier in the season.
Having emerged as the closest challenger to reigning champion Max Verstappen, Norris’ chances faded after a poor Brazilian Grand Prix saw him drop from pole to finish sixth.
Verstappen, on the other hand, stormed from 17th to take the win in Sao Paulo and another victory at this weekend’s Las Vegas GP will seal a fourth consecutive crown.
Norris has conceded his opportunity of claiming his first title has ebbed away and that he accepted that after the poor outing in Sao Paulo.
“Not a lot has changed, honestly,” he said.
“I kind of know the position I’m in now and I have less to lose now, the gap to Max is – for the first time – probably when I’ve looked at the gap myself and had the realisation of where things stand.
“Post-Brazil was a tough one for me because it was the first moment, realistically, when I thought it was tough to achieve first position now. My real fight for the title was slimmed by the most points of the year, a tricky one but my approach has been correct.
“My approach has been the right approach for the last few weekends, I have been performing well and doing a good job - so I can’t change anything, but I think I can go out and enjoy it a little bit more.”
Despite seeing his title aspirations disappear, Norris feels he has at least proven to himself he can compete at the very front of the field.
Asked what lessons he has learned to take into next season, the McLaren driver replied: “That I have what it takes, I think it is the first time in the last six years of Formula 1 when we have had a chance to fight at the front.
“This is our, and my, first opportunity to do so and my first opportunity to see where I stand.
“I definitely wasn’t at the level I needed to be at [for] the beginning of the year and even at the Miami point of the season.
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“Since the summer break I feel like I have done a good job and performed very, very well, by far some of the best performances I have done. I wouldn’t change many things that have happened. I still need to make tweaks and improve on things, that is clear.
“For the first time I am confident to say that I have what I think I need to fight for a championship. That doesn’t mean I’m complete or perfect that is for sure.
“The main thing I can take away is that I have faith that I have what it takes to fight for a championship.”
Asked to liken his championship tussle with Verstappen to a chess match, Norris suggested defeat could be near: “It’s very out of reach at the minute. We’ve been performing well, but I need a lot of luck. It’s check and I’m all alone, and Max has all his pawns ready to attack me.”
