LANDO NORRIS has insisted Daniel Ricciardo will be under more pressure than him at McLaren this season.
Seven-time race winner Ricciardo signed a three-year contract with McLaren after spending two years at Renault.
The Australian Formula 1 star, 31, will be racing alongside team-mate Norris this year.
But Norris, who has given up pizza in a bid to get in shape, thinks all eyes will be on Ricciardo.
Speaking at the launch of McLaren’s new MCL35M car, Norris said: “I don’t think the arrival of Daniel will make it any harder for me.
“I worked with Carlos who is an extremely good driver and there are things Carlos is going to be better at than Daniel and vice-versa.
“I don’t believe Daniel is a big step above anything that Carlos has achieved, and there is more pressure on him because he has been in Formula One for longer and he has to come in and perform very well.
“It is harder for someone to go up against a much younger driver than it is for a younger driver going up against someone with more experience.
“I am in that earlier phase of my career but I still need to perform very well, and there are no excuses for me anymore.”
Meanwhile, Ricciardo has admitted he is ‘excited’ about his prospects with McLaren.
He said: “Everything I have seen excites me about where McLaren is heading.
“I really believe in the personnel.”
Before he added: “They are doing what it takes to be a real contender in the championship.”
F1 fans have been going crazy for McLaren’s new launch song created by Norris and Ricciardo.
