'Just as hungry': Lando Norris motivated in pursuit of defending F1 world title

[p]The fresh-faced Briton held off teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] and Red Bull's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] in a thrilling three-way fight that went all the way to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.[/p][p]It made him McLaren's first world champion since [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a] secured the first of his seven titles in 2008, with the success also sealing the constructors' crown.[/p][p]Mercedes and Red Bull are seen as the narrow frontrunners ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix this weekend, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Norris[/a] is not worried.[/p][p][b]"I don't think we're starting on the back foot. You know, even if you're second, third or fourth quickest, I don't think that's on the back foot,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"I think that's still a very good position to start. And I think in previous years, where it's been harder to improve over the course of a season, we've certainly proved that you could.[/b][/p][p][b]"And I continue to believe that. It's a long, very long season."[/b][/p][embed guid="18206641-9212-4cdc-a34f-657e4f6619d1" url="https://x.com/McLarenF1/status/2020906052464636391?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 26-year-old began his championship-winning year with victory at Melbourne, crossing the line ahead of Verstappen and Mercedes' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]George Russell[/a].[/p][p]He had to wait another seven Grand Prix to top the podium again, as Piastri took control before the championship morphed into a three-man battle.[/p][p][b]"I guess one of the big learning things from last year is to not get too frustrated with one bad race, two bad races, bad beginning of a year. It can always come back as long as you keep working hard," [/b]said Norris.[/p][embed guid="a0b28b08-3d8f-44eb-b0a0-caa3bbcfd124" url="https://x.com/McLarenF1/status/2029444207891345870?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]With his championship on the line, Norris has done more training during the off-season than ever before, conscious that he is now the driver with a target on his back.[/p][p]But the extra pressure has only spurred him on.[/p][p][b]"I'm still just as hungry," [/b]he said, with winning the title making him want to experience the euphoria again.[/p][p][b]"You get that feeling the same as when you win one race, you want another one, For me, it was the same feeling with the championship - that one is amazing, but then you definitely want to achieve two.[/b][/p][p]"But honestly, when you get on track you're not either (the hunted or the hunter)," he added.[/p][p][b]"You certainly don't think 'I'm the hunted now', and something changes."[/b][/p]