Juan Pablo Montoya, former Formula 1 driver and Indianapolis 500 champion, expects a stronger McLeren’s Lando Norris.
Despite a heart break at Russian Grand Prix, he believes that Norris will find more confidence.
Norris led the race from pole position and McLaren expected him to win his maiden race victory at Sochi. However, the teams’ gamble played out otherwise and team had to compromise his potion for the tyre change.
Norris and team opted to stay put on the slicks but rain poured in heavier. It caused McLaren to compromise its race and Lewis Hamilton gained on him. It led to 100th F1 grand prix victory for Hamilton.
Norris felt devastated after slipping maiden victory to Hamilton. But Montoya believes that the young Briton will regain more confidence in his abilities.
“It’s crazy because I know how disappointed he is, but if you look at the big picture, you’re leading a grand prix,” Montoya told Motorsport.tv.
“Yes, you didn’t win it, but you’ve been on the podium, you led most of the grand prix, you didn’t make any mistakes. In hindsight, 90% of that grid would have loved to do what Lando did.
“He proved he can get the job done, that is the most important thing. What he is going to get out of this positively is knowing that he can get the job done.”
Montoya related Norris to himself in the 2001 Brazilian GP. He managed to challenge the mighty Michael Schumacher.
“That is a little what happened to me in Brazil when Jos ran over me,” he explained.
“Everybody thought I was really pissed. I was actually really happy, because I passed Michael and I was leading a grand prix.
“In my mind it was like: ‘I can do this; I can really do this’. If you start believing in yourself like that, that you can get the job done. Then it becomes pretty easy.”
Norris performance after Ricciardo win at Monza points to McLaren being on the right path.
“I think it’s really good, Daniel is doing a really good job as well, and is getting stronger with the car, that is good to see,” he added.
” I think Lando is doing an unbelievable job as well, Lando has a really nice chemistry with the team.
“Yes, they won the previous race, but they haven’t been in a position often enough to win races. And when you’re not there all the time and you’re under pressure, then mistakes will come.
“It takes a bit of time to make sure you do the right calls. I don’t think it’s anybody to blame for what happened there. As a team, they did an amazing job. It just didn’t go their way.”
