McLaren’s Lando Norris says it is “pretty cool” that he is facing a battle for victory in the Singapore Grand Prix with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Norris, who has taken pole for the race ahead of title rival Verstappen and Hamilton, is 59 points behind the Red Bull driver in the championship and aiming to close the gap.
Briton Norris said it was “awesome” to be “trying to fight against them”.
“There’s World Championships, I mean, there’s 150 wins or something between them,” Norris said.
“So, yeah, I’ve got nothing on them and nothing comparing to them. Respect them a lot. I’ve looked up to both of them for a long time, both literally and mentally, you know, so it doesn’t change what I do and how I go out and drive.”
Hamilton has an all-time record 105 grand prix victories and Verstappen is third in the list with 61.
Norris needs to close on Verstappen by just over eight points a race – more than the gap between the points for first and second place – to beat the Dutchman to the title. He is going for his third career victory, following wins in Miami and the Netherlands this season.
“I probably know what to expect a bit more from them because I’ve seen them drive and I think they both drive with respect and they both want to drive as clean racing drivers,” he said.
“That’s something I always look forward to.
“I just know that they’ll try and play more tricks, or you know they’re just smarter than probably the other drivers and know how to play the longer game or the shorter game more than probably other drivers too.
“I probably just respect it more and enjoy being here with two greats of the sport.”
Englishman Norris has not converted any of his four previous pole positions this year into a lead at the end of the first lap, something that could be crucial on Sunday as overtaking is notoriously difficult at the Marina Bay track.
