Bahrain Grand Prix: Lando Norris ready to take on Lewis Hamilton & Max Verstappen

McLaren driver Lando Norris believes he is ready to go toe-to-toe with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the top of Formula 1.

The 22-year-old Briton heads into his fourth F1 season not sure where his team are in terms of competitiveness.

But he believes he has developed to a point where he has what it takes to win if the car is quick.

«I believe so,» Norris said. «Doesn't mean I'd always come out on top, but definitely a few times.»

Norris is talking to BBC Sport in an unusually chilly Bahrain paddock on the eve of the first race of the season.

Hood pulled up against the cold desert wind, Norris admits he's «a little bit nervous» as to where McLaren stand after front-brake cooling problems afflicted them in testing last week.

But on a personal front he heads into 2022 in a confident frame of mind after a breakthrough season last year in which he established himself among the F1 elite.

Norris talks a lot about improving himself, about being «in a better position» in many aspects of his driving, taking «a big step forward last year», especially with consistency — achieving his highest level as often as possible.

He's a perfectionist, you see.

«I am. I always want it to be perfect,» he says. «With everything I do, I always need it to be done right and done properly and I won't be happy until it's done as close to perfection as possible.

»And secondly, various things with driving, adapting to different scenarios and being ready to drive outside my comfort zone and getting used to more different driving styles."

Ask him if he will ever be satisfied, and he says: «Never. Maybe one day. I don't know.»

He admits it is the lot of the high-achieving racing driver to be this way.

«You ask most drivers 'will you ever be satisfied?' and I