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McLaren driver Lando Norris’ openness in admitting his frailties is “used against him”, according to his former team-mate Carlos Sainz.<\/b><\/p>\n
Sainz, who partnered Norris at McLaren from 2019-20 and has remained friends with the Briton, told BBC 5 live Sport: “He opens [up] to the media and to people more than any other driver on the grid – and people use that against him.”<\/p>\n
Sainz, who now drives for Williams, said: “What you see on TV is what he is as a human being. He’s very good at showing himself.<\/p>\n
“I sometimes find it a bit ironic and a bit frustrating. He is probably the only guy being 100% genuine on his feelings and the way he thinks but then people are going back at him.”<\/p>\n
Norris ended Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix fastest by 0.291 seconds from team-mate Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n
Norris is 16 points behind the Australian before this race, which marks the end of the first part of the season before Formula 1’s summer break.<\/p>\n
Sainz said Norris being criticised for his openness was “a bit sad” because “probably the 19 other drivers have a similar level of doubt and a similar level of self-criticism inside their heads, they just don’t explain it out loud because we prefer to keep it inside and not say it to the media”.<\/p>\n
Norris has admitted that he has made errors this season that have cost him points.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the year, Norris was struggling with a lack of feel from the front axle of the car, which made it difficult for him to anticipate its behaviour when he was pushing to the limit.<\/p>\n
McLaren have made a change to the front suspension to improve this aspect of the car for him, and Norris has been more comfortable since the Canadian Grand Prix in June.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Norris made errors on his qualifying laps in Canada that left him sixth on the grid, and crashed into Piastri after a misjudgement during the race.<\/p>\n
He then won in Austria, and inherited victory at the British Grand Prix when Piastri was penalised for his driving behind a safety car.<\/p>\n
Norris then took pole in Belgium last weekend but was overtaken on the first lap by Piastri, who went on to win.<\/p>\n
Asked about Norris’ prospects of beating Piastri to the championship this year, Sainz said: “If I base my decision on speed and talent, I’m 100% sure he has that to win a World Championship.<\/p>\n
“But F1 also involves a bit of luck, mental resilience, being at home with a car in the right times.<\/p>\n
“It doesn’t really matter if he doesn’t win this year, he’ll get another chance. He has 10-15 years in F1. He has the potential, talent and speed.<\/p>\n
“If he gets it this year, great I’ll be happy for him. If not, he might get his chance later.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n