GPToday.net's 2019 F1 driver rankings - #4 - Lando Norris

  • Published on 20 Dec 2019 13:30
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

The name Lando Norris has been on the lips of motorsport fans for a handful of years now, as the Briton’s impressive junior career got him noticed very quickly.

Eventual graduation to F1 seemed almost inevitable for Norris, and so it came as little surprise when he was announced for 2019 at McLaren, having spent a couple years as a development driver.

However, many expected more from him in his F2 campaign, where he lost out on the title to George Russell – but lots of those doubts were quickly vanished once Norris announced himself in F1.

In his rookie year, Norris has set the foundations for a long and bright future in F1, showcasing raw speed, race craft and strong consistency.

The McLaren team is almost a 180 flipped team compared to the outfit of recent years, as it made a big leap from its 2018 position to 2019. The season simply got better for McLaren as it went along, and soon it was pretty untouchable for fourth place in the standings.

Norris played a large part in getting the team there, as did his teammate Carlos Sainz, with the two sharing one of the most talked-about partnerships in recent F1.

In Bahrain, Norris stormed to a sixth-place finish, securing majority as he battled the more experienced in what was just his second race in F1.

Norris continued to impress throughout the year, as he was able to keep very close or even beat the much more experienced Sainz. 
 

  Carlos Sainz Lando Norris
Qualifying head-to-head 10 11
Race head-to-head 13 8
Average qualifying gap -0.022 +0.022


There were many 'what could have been' races for Norris throughout hte year, as he was forced out of a fifth-place finish on the final lap of the Belgian Grand Prix with a mechanical issue.

His race in Canada was halted due to a broken suspension, in Germany with another mechanical issue and in Mexico, he was denied probable points when his pit stop went wrong and his wheel wasn't attached properly. 

Norris impressed many this year, and takes our pick for the highest placed rookie in our rankings. A bright future lies ahead of the 20-year-old as he looks to build upon an impressive rookie campaign next year. 

Norris' best moment of 2019: Breakthrough in Bahrain

It was early on in his career, but the young Briton made headlines after he stormed to sixth place in Bahrain, stamping confirmation that he belonged in the big game. 

Norris' worst moment of 2019: Crashing with Stroll in Spain

They weren't fighting for many valuable positions, but a collision with Lance Stroll in Spain put both drivers out of the race. It does remain however, his only retirement of the year that directly came from a crash. 
 

Race Ratings

AUS BAH CHN AZE SPA MON CAN
7.5 10.0 5.0 8.5 6.5 7.0 7.5

 

FRA AUT GBR GER HUN BEL ITA
9.5 9.5 9.0 5.0 9.0 10.0 8.5

 

SIN RUS JPN MEX USA BRA ABU
8.5 8.0 8.0 7.0 9.0 7.0 9.5

 

Driver Rankings

#20 - Robert Kubica

#19 - Antonio Giovinazzi

#18 - Pierre Gasly

#17 - Romain Grosjean

#16 - Lance Stroll

#15 - Kevin Magnussen

#14 - Kimi Raikkonen

#13 - Daniil Kvyat

#12 - Nico Hulkenberg

#11 - Sebastian Vettel

#10 - George Russell

#9 - Daniel Ricciardo

#8 - Sergio Perez

#7 - Charles Leclerc

#6 - Valtteri Bottas 

#5 - Alexander Albon

Replies (2)

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  • Pretty impressive from Norris. 4th feels pretty high, but at the same time there are very few I'd conspired ahead of Norris. Perhaps only Leclerc. I'm very excited to see what Lando can become. The potential is so clear in all areas of performance.

    • + 0
    • Dec 21 2019 - 05:37
    • I'd no doubt put Leclerc ahead of Norris. Lando's been very good this year, no doubt, but as some other bloke here said to me: I don't really think he blew us away like what Leclerc did on his debut, and I think there are a few other drivers more deserving of being ahead (Leclerc and Perez, to mention 2). But I do look forward to see Norris in 2020.

      • + 0
      • Dec 22 2019 - 07:47

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team McLaren
  • Points 428
  • Podiums 6
  • Grand Prix 84
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Nov 13 1999 (23)
  • Place of b. Glastonbury, United Kingdom
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.7 m
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