'Norris equivalent to Verstappen on some days'

Although Norris is still waiting for his first F1 win, Ricciardo believes it is only a matter of time. He sees the McLaren driver always getting the most out of his car, something Ricciardo himself failed to do during his time with the McLaren team. "I think it’s one of those ones where he’s certainly, at least, what I felt the car was capable of. He was always getting the maximum out of it. So I look at that, and I’m like, ‘Ok, this kid is maximising everything he’s got.'"
In 2022, Daniel Ricciardo finished as many as 85 points behind his young British teammate.

Comparison with Verstappen

Ricciardo was then asked to compare the talent between Norris and Max Verstappen, and he commented: "Comparing him to Max, it’s hard. Did Lando put in some amazing quali laps? Absolutely. Were they as good as anyone on the grid? Probably. But obviously, Max has done that as well. I think there have been days where he obviously looks as good. But to draw a like-for-like comparison, it’s tough. But I think he’s very, very good. I think you’ll know when he gets his first win."

Victories for Norris

However, the Australian does see Norris making great strides in the future. "Obviously, he hasn’t got the win yet, but he’s young. I think he’s still going to learn and keep growing and maturing. It’s just unless he never gets a winning car - that’s the only thing that will probably stop him. I am sure he will soon be racing with a top team. He has really proven himself by now." Last race weekend, Norris was in the lead for a short time, and he could also sniff victory for a long time at the 2021 Russian GP until a huge downpour threw a spanner in the works for the Briton.