The word ‘friends’ in the hyper-competitive and professional world of Formula 1 is hardly used. Just think of how the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has evolved over the years – as soon as the dream of the world title got in the way – after growing up together since adolescence. The stakes are too high, the interests and pressures to which one is exposed are too high. There are some exceptions, however, sometimes. It seems to be the case of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, inseparable ‘friends’ during their period in McLaren: the Spanish and British driver remained on excellent terms even after the first season as opponents: one still with the Woking team, while the other defending the red Ferrari suit.
Not even the head-to-head between the two most historic Formula 1 teams to secure third place in the constructors’ classification does not seem to have deteriorated the friendship and bond that has built up over time between the two. On the track, of course, there’s a close and intense battle, but the important thing is to know how to divide the personal relationship from the professional one. “We still talk to each other from time to time – explained Lando Norris, as reported by the RacingNews365.com website – perhaps not as often or as closely as we have been doing [in] the last two years. But we are still friends, we still get along well. As much as the rivalry has probably increased – he wants to beat me, I want to beat him and [the] teams want to beat each other – we still have a lot of respect for each other, for who we are as drivers and so on.” – he explained.
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The challenges between the two in the 2021 season were not lacking. Both on the podium in Monaco, both on the front row in Russia at the Sochi Autodrom, they also competed – alongside Carlos’ Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc – for fifth place in the drivers’ standings. In the end, with a surprising comeback, it was the Spaniard who won the challenge, therefore scoring more points that Lando Norris for the third consecutive year: “We don’t spend much time together anymore – added Norris – but we still play golf and we have kept that competitive side between us. But when we are on the track it doesn’t matter how good friends you are with anyone, you forget about all this and you just want to beat everyone, no matter what color the car is ”. – he concluded.
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