Carlos Sainz says Lando Norris has "unbelievable skill" as Alex Albon hails title composure

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have praised Lando Norris's evolution into a more complete and mentally resilient driver

Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have detailed McLaren's progress since racing against the Briton as team-mates and in the junior categories.

Norris heads into the season finale in Abu Dhabi leading the championship by 12 points over Max Verstappen. Norris's McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri trails the Dutchman by four points in third.

Sainz drove alongside Norris at McLaren in 2019 and 2020 before the Spanish driver moved to Ferrari in 2021. While Sainz explained he always knew Norris had "unbelievable skill to drive the car at the limit," he has seen him develop into a more consistent driver.

"I think at the time, obviously what I saw immediately from Lando was an unbelievable skill to drive the car at the limit and put together really good qualifying laps," he told the media in Abu Dhabi.

"Again, I've been team-mates with Charles, with Max, Lando. I've been team-mates with all the top guys on the grid by now, and I can tell you Lando has nothing left in his tank in terms of speed.

"I think his speed is as quick as anyone and quicker even than anyone on his good day. I think what he's developed the most is that consistency through the year, being strong on tracks that maybe he wasn't that strong in his first couple of years versus me.

"And now when I look at his driving and how strong he is everywhere, he's developed that skill that comes with more experience, which is to be quick in every circumstance, at every track, and now he's more of an all-rounder for sure than what he was in the first few years.

James Vowles, Team Principal of Williams, Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47, Alex Albon, Williams FW47

Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

"But I don't think he's any quicker than those two years. When you arrive in F1, you're as quick as you can get, and then it's all about developing the skills of how to be quick in every type of corner or in every type of track."

Sainz's team-mate Albon noted how Norris has mentally handled the pressure of being in his first title fight.

"It's been really impressive to see how Lando's handled this the second half of the year," Albon said. "I think he's made almost zero mistakes for the most part and seems to be showing his worth.

"I think he's been dealing with the pressure well, and to my eyes at least, he seems pretty relaxed right now. I don't see him that tense. He's a different generation to me. He's a couple of years younger than I am, so I've never seen him in that kind of championship fight in the junior categories, let's say.

"But yeah, in many ways, I feel like he hasn't had that happen too many times. Maybe I'm wrong in saying that. But he's either dominated the championship or he's not had that fight towards the end. But what better way to do it than your first world championship?"