Norris: McLaren opportunity ‘very different’ to Hamilton

Lando Norris is wary of comparisons to reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, and believes his own chance with McLaren for 2019 is “very different”.

The rising British star’s promotion to F1 at McLaren for 2019 alongside Carlos Sainz was confirmed earlier this week, with Norris currently battling Mercedes young driver George Russell for the Formula 2 title.

Norris’ rapid progress up the single-seater ladder – racking up five championship titles since 2015 – has resulted in comparisons being drawn to Hamilton, who also made his F1 bow with McLaren in 2007.

Hamilton went on to secure his first world championship the following year before leaving the Woking squad to join Mercedes in 2013, with a further three titles following across the next five seasons.

Since his departure, McLaren has failed to win a single grand prix during an uncompetitive spell of form, including a disastrous three-year spell powered by Honda engines between 2015 and 2017.

"Growing up I always watched Lewis and aspired to have some of his attributes, mainly his speed,” Norris said. “I think his raw pace and speed is the best of everyone on the grid at the moment.

"Being compared to someone who could be about to win five world championships, I don't think it's a bad thing in any way. As long as you're getting compared on the good stats and not the bad stats.

"It's still very different,” he added. “He came into McLaren when they were doing extremely well. I've joined when they are going through a pretty tricky time. Things over the past few years have actually got a bit lost.

"I think the opportunity of driving next year, as well as Carlos, is a fresh start and what the team needs to get back to where they need to be."

Despite having less F1 testing opportunities than Hamilton had before making his own grand prix racing debut, Norris impressed the team during in-season testing at the Hungaroring both in 2017 and again this year, while he also made his first FP1 outings at Spa and Italy.

McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown believes it is “natural” to expect similarities being drawn between the two.

"I think its natural because Lewis started here, Lewis is British and Lewis is a wonderful champion. The rate he is going, he may end up being the most successful F1 driver of all time," Brown said. 

"I think all you can really do is look at Lando and what he has accomplished and say that he is a future star and with the right car should be a future world champion.

"But I think the Lewis comparison comes from the whole British thing. Why not compare him to [Michael] Schumacher? I think there are a lot of similarities, not necessarily personality nor driving style. I just think Lando is a future star."