Norris on Hamilton: “He Can Flip Off All Those Who Doubted Him”

Lando Norris did not hesitate to praise Lewis Hamilton after his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, the McLaren driver said that the seven time world champion "can flip off all those who doubted him" after a 2025 season in which the Briton did not manage to get on the podium at any time.

Hamilton, who even described himself as "absolutely useless" during his complicated debut with Ferrari, has resurged in 2026 with three podiums and a victory that has brought the smile back to his face.

Norris shared the podium in Barcelona with Hamilton and George Russell, forming the first all British top three since the 1968 United States Grand Prix, a coincidence that the McLaren driver celebrated with pride: "It's quite cool, it's special, it's nice. The last few races definitely seem like he's raised his level, and although it was something we could take advantage of before, it seems like now he's getting the most out of what he has" declared Norris.

The McLaren driver, who was second in Barcelona, admitted that he remains an admirer of Hamilton despite competing against him: "I grew up being a fan of Lewis and I don't know if I'd still say I'm that kind of fan, but I'm still a fan of him and as a seven time world champion, it's always a pleasure to see that kind of thing and with Ferrari again, it's even nicer to see that this partnership is paying off" explained Norris.

Norris also referred to the criticism Hamilton received during his debut year at Ferrari, when many questioned his ability to remain competitive at 41: "At the same time, obviously a lot of people have spoken badly about him and he's received a lot of criticism from a lot of people, so it's nice that he can flip them all off" stated the Briton, using a colloquial expression to describe Hamilton's response to his detractors.

The McLaren driver joked about Hamilton's pace and admitted he hopes he won't be that fast for the rest of the season: "I hope he's not that fast all season, because it would be nice if we could fight a bit more, but good for him. I think you could see how much it meant to him" concluded Norris.

Hamilton's victory in Barcelona has changed the championship landscape. The Briton is now second in the drivers' standings, 41 points behind Kimi Antonelli, and has proven that, at 41, he still has plenty left in the tank. Ferrari, for its part, has regained hope after a victory drought that extended since the 2024 Mexican GP.