Lando Norris has delivered a glowing assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s performances at Ferrari, admitting that the seven-time Formula 1 world champion continues to impress him with his ability to challenge Charles Leclerc. The McLaren driver believes Hamilton’s competitiveness is particularly remarkable given the quality of his teammate, whom he considers one of the fastest drivers on the grid.
Beyond praising Hamilton’s longevity, Norris also highlighted the progress he believes the British driver has made during the 2026 Formula 1 season. His admiration is not simply based on Hamilton’s extraordinary achievements in the past, but on the fact that, at 41, he remains capable of fighting against a driver of Charles Leclerc’s calibre.
Lando Norris praises Lewis Hamilton’s battle with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari
For Norris, the challenge Hamilton faces at Ferrari makes his continued competitiveness even more impressive. Charles Leclerc has established himself as one of Formula 1’s leading talents, and the McLaren driver was particularly emphatic when assessing the Monegasque’s speed.
“It’s pretty unbelievable what he’s been able to do for such a long time, even to now. To see him fighting against Charles Leclerc, and I think Charles is easily one of the best on the grid, insanely quick, and the fact that Lewis is still giving him a good fight, especially this year,” Norris explained.
Those comments offer an interesting perspective on Ferrari’s internal competition. Rather than viewing Hamilton’s performances exclusively through the expectations attached to a seven-time world champion, Norris emphasised the difficulty of competing against someone he rates so highly.
His assessment also underlines the respect Leclerc commands among his fellow drivers. By describing the Ferrari driver as one of the grid’s strongest competitors, Norris effectively placed additional significance on Hamilton’s ability to remain competitive alongside him.
Norris highlights Lewis Hamilton’s improving Ferrari performances
The McLaren driver also suggested that Hamilton has shown encouraging progress in his ability to extract performance from the Ferrari. Norris believes the improvement has extended beyond the direct comparison with Leclerc, with the British driver appearing increasingly comfortable in delivering stronger results.
“Everyone’s enjoyed the fact he was able to give Charles a better performance, not just give his teammate a better performance, but also look like he was getting more out of the car and achieving better results every time,” Norris added.
That distinction is important because the Ferrari teammate battle is only one element of Hamilton’s performance. Although Leclerc provides a demanding reference point, Norris also sees value in the seven-time world champion’s ability to maximise the car’s potential and improve his overall competitiveness.
His comments are particularly relevant to the discussion surrounding Hamilton’s Ferrari career. The British driver’s performances inevitably attract scrutiny because of his exceptional record in Formula 1, but Norris’ assessment offers a reminder that his current teammate represents one of the toughest challenges available on the grid.
Lewis Hamilton inspires Lando Norris to believe in a longer F1 career
While the competition between Hamilton and Leclerc attracted considerable praise, Norris also explained that Hamilton’s longevity has influenced his own expectations about the future.
With Hamilton continuing to race competitively at 41, the McLaren driver believes his fellow Briton is demonstrating that Formula 1 careers can remain successful for considerably longer than younger drivers might initially imagine.
“I can look at him and see him at his age, in his form, and it makes me believe more than ever that I can fight for many, many more years, and that’s something I look forward to doing,” Norris admitted.
For Norris, Hamilton’s example is not simply about remaining on the grid. It is about continuing to compete at a high level against talented rivals, even after spending many years in one of the most physically and mentally demanding categories of motorsport.
The McLaren driver made clear that he regards Hamilton’s ability to sustain such a lengthy career as an exceptional accomplishment, particularly because his competitive ambitions remain evident.
“So I think it’s a pretty incredible achievement for him to fight for this long. He’s a good inspiration for many of us,” Norris concluded.
What makes Norris’ praise particularly significant is the combination of respect for Hamilton’s achievements and recognition of his current performances. The McLaren driver is not simply celebrating the legacy of one of Formula 1’s most successful competitors; he is acknowledging that Hamilton continues to present a meaningful challenge to Charles Leclerc.
For Ferrari, Norris’ remarks provide an interesting outside perspective on its driver pairing. Charles Leclerc’s exceptional speed makes him a formidable benchmark, but Lewis Hamilton’s ability to challenge his teammate continues to earn admiration from competitors who understand the demands of racing at the highest level.
And for Norris himself, watching Hamilton remain competitive so far into his Formula 1 career has reinforced the belief that he, too, could have many more years of racing ahead of him.
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