Norris: F2 title miss made me a better driver

Lando Norris believes his near Formula 2 title miss to George Russell has ultimately made the Brit a "better driver" as he prepares for his first season in Formula 1.

Norris will be competing in his rookie season in F1, after McLaren called on the 19-year-old to replace Stoffel Vandoorne to partner Carlos Sainz.

Russell, who like Norris, will be taking part in his rookie season with Williams, clinched the F2 title in 2018.

Norris managed a fantastic season, finishing second, and the youngster is taking all of the positives from the season, as he takes the step up.

"In some ways, last year I didn't win the championship, so it was a good enough year for me to learn that I cannot always win," Norris said at the Autosport International Show last weekend. 

"I don't mean to be arrogant but I've always been with good teams, always had good people around me, and that has helped me be a better driver. That has helped me win races and championships. I have been able to experience different things to other drivers.

"At the same time, Formula 1 is very different, every year there are big changes and you can't always be where you want to. That's something I have to learn, something I have started to learn last year: how you have to develop and progress, and become better as a team.

"In Formula 2 and Formula 3, it's a one-make series. There are smaller things you can change, but you can still be separate to other teams. In F1, everything is different. Different people, car, different engine, so on.

"There are a lot of things you have to put together to become better overall. That's one of the things I'm not going to be perfect at, but over time I will become better - and be a better driver in terms of helping myself and the team, and one day, hopefully win a world championship."