Lando Norris has insisted he enters the new Formula One season highly motivated to retain the world championship he won for the first time last year, saying his maiden triumph has given him greater confidence in his ability.
The McLaren driver secured the title in a tense three-way battle with teammate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, ultimately prevailing by just two points at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Despite achieving a lifelong dream, the 26-year-old insists his ambition remains undimmed.
Norris has often faced questions over whether he possesses the killer instinct shown by rivals such as Verstappen, but he remains committed to winning his own way. "It's quite clear that I have a different mentality and a different approach to what Max has. Good or bad, you decide," he said. "There's a lot of things that I still admire in Max, and I wish I had a little bit more of that here and there. But my motivation to win is exactly the same."
With a host of new regulations introduced this season, including new hybrid power units and a push-to-pass boost function, Norris believes racing could become more unpredictable. "You'll see more yo-yoing, more moves with extra speed," he said, adding that managing the electrical energy would be a major challenge for drivers and teams.
The new season begins in Melbourne on 8 March, with pre-season testing continuing in Bahrain next week before the final test ahead of the opening race.
