Lando Norris responds to number one British driver claims ahead of Silverstone race

Lando Norris heads into the British Grand Prix as the leading Briton in the drivers’ standings; however, he joked that he has “not proven” himself as the British number one driver yet.

The McLaren driver is second in the drivers’ standings with 201 points, 15 points behind his team-mate Oscar Piastri. Fellow British drivers George Russell, Alex Albon, and Ollie Bearman sit fourth, eighth, and 18th, respectively.

“I mean, theoretically… I’m not even going to say it,” he joked. “I have the best chance of winning the race, I would say, and of course the one who’s most likely fighting for the Championship this season,” Norris explained while chuckling during the press conference in Silverstone when he was asked if he saw himself as Britain’s number one driver.

“Am I British number one? I don’t know. I don’t know how much you take history into account. I think if you still take history into account, then Lewis is quite convincingly at the top. A lot more race wins and poles and championships than anyone else really, put together.” 

The seven-time champion has had an incredibly strong history at the British Grand Prix, finishing on the podium every year since 2014. He has celebrated nine Grand Prix wins at Silverstone, with his latest in 2024.

“So, maybe I’m the favourite of the weekend from a British point of view, but I don’t know. That’s your job to put the numbers on people, not mine. It would be nice. That’s my goal. It’s the same as it is with any sportsman in whatever series they are – tennis, golf. You want to be number one, but I would say I’ve not proven myself to be that yet, but it’s something I’m working on,” he concluded.

Norris arrived in Silverstone on the back of his win at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend. 

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

“I mean, I’m very excited for everything. Every day is one to look forward to,” he also told the media. “Of course, the driving on track is still the best bit, but I’ve already done some stuff this morning. We did Trafalgar Square yesterday, which was pretty special. I went over to the stands earlier this morning.

“So, plenty of things for me to look forward to. All good things, all exciting things, more like a positive distraction more than anything else. So, it’s good. And, of course, coming off Austria is a nice feeling too. So, ready to get going.”