Norris says he is “seen numerous images over the past 12 hours; numerous little me”.

Certainly one of them is of him doing donuts in a kart when he was nonetheless a small boy. What would he inform little Lando if he may discuss to him now?

“Most likely simply to have a bit extra perception in myself,” he says, “as a result of it is one thing I by no means actually had once I was youthful. It is one thing I at all times lacked.

“In that video, I used to be so small. I used to be by no means the massive child or by no means the aggressive one, that type of factor. I am nonetheless the identical, I feel, now. I’d simply get my elbows out just a little bit extra. That is most likely my solely factor.”

This type of vulnerability is Norris’ trademark. It was evident after the race, too, when he stated he was “proud that I’ve proved myself fallacious”.

I ask what he meant, and he says it was a reference to his troublesome first a part of the season, when his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri took the initiative, and the championship lead, and had gained 4 races earlier than Norris had taken his second.

By the point of the Dutch Grand Prix on the finish of August, Piastri had a 34-point lead over Norris and appeared a sure guess for the title, just for Norris to rally and overhaul all of it.

“When Oscar was doing a greater job than me and I wasn’t doing a fantastic job, I used to be like, ‘Properly, you already know, possibly they’re only a bit higher. Perhaps they’ll simply be extra constant, get extra out of the automobile,'” Norris says.

“I simply by no means thought at instances that it was potential. So for me to then try this for myself, to type of go, ‘You are fallacious, you are able to do it,’ is a fairly unimaginable feeling to have for your self.

“I would not say I am a really egocentric individual, however I’ve additionally realized at instances I nearly should be extra egocentric with a few of these emotions and ideas. I would like that to nearly make me a greater and stronger driver.

“It is simply good to nearly make myself have extra confidence. However I usually solely try this once I show it to myself. I’ve at all times had that considered, ‘Oh, the following step is such a giant leap. Am I ever going to have the ability to carry out on the degree I have to carry out at?’ I’ve extra doubts than optimistic ideas at these instances.

“However I’ve additionally modified quite a bit this season. I additionally really feel via the yr I have been in a position to be in a a lot better place, be much more assured in myself, change my entire strategy and mentality.”