The first rule is always you have to beat your teammate. But on the other hand, you always have your teammate where you can see where you're at. If you're not in the right car, it's hard to show your full potential. There's just so many drivers out there right now as well. Do you agree with that?ĬK: Yes, of course. TC: Do you think you got cars that were worthy of your talent? I'm going to put it to you that you were quick, but never had the car that allowed you to show what you could do. But you only get the chance once.īEYOND THE GRID: Lando Norris on driving McLaren’s revival and the responsibility of being the team’s senior driver For me, it would have been better a year or two later with a bit more experience in a higher category. The two tests went pretty well and if that train comes only once… if you don't jump on the train, it's too late. One was with Jordan, one was with Jaguar and I grabbed the opportunity obviously. I was second in the European series, I won the Marlboro Masters, and then after that I get the first offers for a test drive. But if you get the opportunity, I had a really good Formula 3 season. TC: You were only 20 when you stepped up. People from the outside don't really see how big that transition is. Then of course, there’s the media attention, all the travelling. Especially coming from a Formula 3 team, which has only 20 people, I think that's the biggest change if you jump into Formula 1. But being in that big environment of such a huge team with 700 employees, you have to work your way through who is important for you, who to talk to. It was a huge step jumping into Formula 1 and I think you get relatively quickly used to it and learn it. There was much more testing, which was probably more fun than sitting in the simulator. Particularly back then, I was 20 years old, I would say it was a little bit more difficult. But once you're in Formula 1, it's not done. How do you reflect on your time?ĬK: Obviously, making it to Formula 1 is such a huge step for every driver. You made 49 starts – split between Jaguar, Red Bull and Hispania. TC: Well, let's bring it onto your Formula 1 career now, Christian. Of course, he has the car for it now, but those are probably for me the two standout drivers for this season. It's amazing what he can do, how hungry he is. But then also Fernando Alonso, 41 years old. He just performs at an incredible level, with more coolness now. TC: And who are your standout drivers of 2023 so far?ĬK: Max, of course. From then on, you knew they really did not just want to be part of Formula 1, they were here to win. But if you follow the team closely, especially after the first three or four years, they took it a bit more serious and they put the right people in the right position. Red Bull was definitely an underdog, with no history in Formula 1 and basically starting from scratch. Not even Helmut, or Didi Mateschitz back then. Have you been surprised that 18 years later they've got this level of dominance or was the appetite and the potential there even back then?ĬK: I mean, in the beginning, who could have thought of this? Nobody. TC: You raced for Red Bull in their first season of Formula 1 back in 2005 and even Jaguar before that, which was the same team. If you follow it closely, I think it's a very dynamic season and certainly very interesting. You see the Ferraris up at the front struggling in the races so you feel for them. It's great to see a new team like Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso, fighting for podiums. I think the whole pack is definitely closer together. I think it's exciting, although Red Bull is pretty strong, but that might change later on in the season. What do you make of the season so far?ĬK: I like it. TC: Well, we're going to come on to your career in a minute. So going to the Formula 1 race is almost like a holiday nowadays! I have a young child, one and a half years old, who keeps me really busy when I'm at home. I'm enjoying life currently, as a commentator, but still racing myself. How are you?Ĭhristian Klien: Well, Tom, thank you very much for having me on the show. Tom Clarkson: Christian, it is great to see you again.
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