'Norris is up there with the best Formula 1 world champions'

16:03, 01 Jan

5 Comments

byKada Sarkozi

Former F1 driver and steward Johnny Herbert believes Lando Norris is up there among the best world champions.

"He's actually making Max think. That’s very powerful and that just shows how good Lando has become."

- Johnny Herbert

Norris was crowned Formula 1 world champion for the first time this season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

During the season finale, the British driver had to secure a podium finish to claim the title no matter what the results of his rivals were, and he eventually finished two points ahead of Max Verstappen in the standings.

According to Herbert, Norris made some mistakes he needs to improve on, but he believes that the McLaren driver still has a lot of potential to unlock as well.

Speaking to a betting site, the Briton said about the McLaren driver: "Lando [Norris] is one of the greats of F1. But is he going to get better? I believe he will do. As Max [Verstappen] said at the weekend, it's the best he's driven, so he's still improving.

Norris celebrating his first world title in Abu Dhabi - Photo: Race Pictures

"Lando is a late bloomer, and I think it would be probably getting towards his 30s where he will peak. The biggest thing you get through the experiences of winning a world championship is that it will just push him onto another level mentally. And he will only become more and more powerful.

“Yes he’s only 26, but I think there are those four or five years when you're at your very peak. Where is he in the world championship table of winners? Well, he's very high up."

Herbert believes that Norris could deal with pressure more, and found himself more comfortable driving the car during the rest of the season.

He also added that the fact that Norris defeated Verstappen also adds to his title's value.

"We definitely haven't seen the very best of Lando. But we've always got to remember we're talking Max of being one of the best we have ever seen, and he’s given Max a pretty hard time this year.

"That just shows that he's moving in a direction and he's actually making Max think. That’s very powerful and that just shows how good Lando has become," he concluded.

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