‘When Lewis achieves everything he needs to achieve and steps down, Lando will be at the helm’: Norris backed to emulate Hamilton after young Brit earned first Formula 1 podium at Austrian Grand Prix
- Lando Norris became youngest Brit to achieve Formula 1 podium at Austrian GP
- He beat the record set by Lewis Hamilton and is now the third-youngest ever
- Norris’ McLaren mentor Trevor Carlin backed Norris to have a huge future
Lando Norris has been backed to follow in Lewis Hamilton’s fooststeps after the 20-year-old Brit earned his first Formula One podium with a third-placed finish at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The McLaren youngster beat his compatriot to become the youngest Brit, and third-youngest ever, to achieve a podium finish and the display earned praise from his one-time mentor Trevor Carlin.
Carlin, who met met Norris in 2014 and instigated his 2015 MSA Formula 4 championship win, now believes the young star is well placed to dominate the sport once Hamilton, 35, retires.
McLaren’s 20-year-old British driver Lando Norris finished third at the Austrian Grand Prix
At 35, Hamilton is approaching the end of his career and Norris is set to succeed him
He told The Sun: ‘Lando is the obvious heir to Lewis’ crown as the top British driver.
‘When Lewis achieves everything he needs to achieve and steps down, Lando will be at the helm.
‘He needs the correct package but McLaren have made incredible steps over the last few months and who’s to say that they cannot be a force in 12 months time?
‘He is doing everything right and the results are coming and I am very proud of him.’
The secret to Norris’ success, Carlin believes, is the way he approaches his racing and the fact he is unlikely to be fazed by his newfound fame.
Trevor Carlin, who helped mentor Norris, insisted he was ‘proud’ of the young driver
He added: ‘Will he change from a lifestyle point of view? Absolutely not. He is not that sort of guy.
‘A great example is Sebastian Vettel because he was racing with us in 2006 and 2007.
‘I saw him at Hockenheim two years ago when his younger brother was doing an Audi support race and Seb was doing his brother’s pit board.
‘I went over and asked him how he was doing and I said, ‘hey Seb, mind if I tell you something?’ He said ‘what?’
‘I said ‘you have never changed’. Now, it has been years since he drove for me and is a four time world champion and has all the money in the world.
‘He just looked at me and replied “why would I need to?” and I see Lando being exactly the same.
‘Lando is the nicest person you could ever meet. I am chuffed to bits for him.
‘He is not flash or big headed. He basically always delivers. It is as simple as that.’
Norris has been praised for his level-headedness so far in his fledgling racing career
On the Glastobury-born starlet, Carlin added: ‘He was great fun and at certain times he would like his own space and do and sit in a corner pull his hoodie up and play with his phone.
‘The fact he is constantly driving a real car or a simulator means he doesn’t have a lot of time to get in to trouble.
‘His poor old mum. He would do a test day with us and go home about 8 o’clock at night after a long day.
‘His mum would ask how his day had been because she wanted to see him, but Lando would grab his dinner and go and sit on his sim and go racing again online!’