Norris says he is “seen loads of images during the last 12 hours; loads of little me”.
Considered one of them is of him doing donuts in a kart when he was nonetheless a small boy. What would he inform little Lando if he might speak to him now?
“In all probability simply to have a bit extra perception in myself,” he says, “as a result of it is one thing I by no means actually had once I was youthful. It is one thing I at all times lacked.
“In that video, I used to be so small. I used to be by no means the large child or by no means the aggressive one, that form of factor. I am nonetheless the identical, I feel, now. I might simply get my elbows out just a little bit extra. That is in all probability my solely factor.”
This type of vulnerability is Norris’ trademark. It was evident after the race, too, when he stated he was “proud that I’ve proved myself fallacious”.
I ask what he meant, and he says it was a reference to his troublesome first a part of the season, when his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri took the initiative, and the championship lead, and had received 4 races earlier than Norris had taken his second.
By the point of the Dutch Grand Prix on the finish of August, Piastri had a 34-point lead over Norris and appeared a sure wager for the title, just for Norris to rally and overhaul all of it.
“When Oscar was doing a greater job than me and I wasn’t doing an ideal job, I used to be like, ‘Nicely, you realize, perhaps they’re only a bit higher. Possibly they will simply be extra constant, get extra out of the automobile,'” Norris says.
“I simply by no means thought at instances that it was attainable. So for me to then do this for myself, to form of go, ‘You are fallacious, you are able to do it,’ is a fairly unbelievable feeling to have for your self.
“I would not say I am a really egocentric particular person, however I’ve additionally discovered at instances I nearly need to be extra egocentric with a few of these emotions and ideas. I would like that to nearly make me a greater and stronger driver.
“It is simply good to nearly make myself have extra confidence. However I typically solely do this once I show it to myself. I’ve at all times had that considered, ‘Oh, the following step is such a giant leap. Am I ever going to have the ability to carry out on the stage I must carry out at?’ I’ve extra doubts than optimistic ideas at these instances.
“However I’ve additionally modified rather a lot this season. I additionally really feel by the yr I have been in a position to be in a a lot better place, be much more assured in myself, change my complete method and mentality.”
