GLASTONBURY racing driver Lando Norris is “excited” to return to the track he made his Formula 1 debut at two years ago for the first time this weekend.
The McLaren driver finished in twelfth when he made his debut at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix, which saw him become the youngest-ever British F1 driver at the age of 20.
The Australian Grand Prix has not taken place since then due to the pandemic.
The Albert Park street circuit has undergone significant changes since F1 last raced there, with seven of the track’s 16 corners being modified to encourage faster and better racing.
This year will also be the first time Norris’s teammate Daniel Ricciardo has raced at his home Grand Prix with McLaren after he joined the team from Renault.
Ahead of the weekend, Norris told McLaren’s official website: “I’m looking forward to getting out on track in the new car in Melbourne, especially with the changes they’ve made since we last raced there three years ago.
“I’m excited to see what progress we can make.
“It’s a special race for me, as I made my debut there in 2019 and with the pandemic, we haven’t raced there since, so I've been working hard in the sim to get back up to speed with the track, especially with the new changes.”
McLaren have endured a difficult start to the new season – which saw the sport’s technical regulations revamped – and will be aiming to get both cars in the points for the first time in 2022.
Norris conceded the team have lost “a little bit of our happiness” following the tough opening races, but he says they are “very motivated” to regain their pace.
He added: “The race in Jeddah showed the small steps we’ve made but we’ve still got a long way to go.
“The points were a nice reward for the team’s hard work.
“As a team, at track and back at the factory, we’re working hard to develop the car and unlock more performance, but we know we’ve got a long way to go.”
Eight-time race winner Ricciardo is yet to score a point this season, though he was on track to do so before a mechanical failure forced him to retire in Saudi Arabia.
The 32-year-old Australian said: “I am beyond excited to get back out on track in Melbourne.
“Nothing beats a home crowd, and the Australian fans are some of the best in the world.
“I’ve been back in Perth since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and I feel rested, prepared, and excited to get stuck into one of my favourite weekends of the year.
“The end to my race in Jeddah was frustrating but it was encouraging to see how the team’s hard work is starting to pay off bit by bit.
“There were a lot of positives to take out of the weekend and I’m a lot more comfortable in the car.
“We still have a long way to go, and we’re focused on the task at hand.”
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