Lando Norris Aims to Bridge Gap with Max Verstappen Ahead of Mexico City GP

Posted : 25 October 2024

Lando Norris, McLaren's talented driver, recently acknowledged the need for some changes in his approach if he’s to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on equal footing. Although Norris currently sits second in the Formula One standings, he trails Verstappen by 57 points with five races remaining.

In the recent U.S. Grand Prix, Norris finished fourth, narrowly behind Verstappen, who claimed third after the two drivers clashed in a pair of debated corner incidents. Addressing reporters at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Norris noted that Verstappen’s exceptional skill in both attack and defense makes him a formidable opponent, and matching that level will require him to step up his own game.

Reflecting on the race, Norris admitted that he still has ground to cover to reach Verstappen’s standard, considering the Dutch driver to be the best in the world at his defensive and offensive tactics. He acknowledged that while it’s difficult to admit, the gap is likely due to experience, and he sees it as an opportunity to learn and improve.

Facing Verstappen, who only needs to finish ahead of him rather than focus on outright victory, has presented Norris with fresh challenges, prompting him to consider adjustments to better compete at this elite level. While appreciative of their on-track rivalry, Norris expressed that ultimately he needs to start outperforming Verstappen.

In Texas, Norris faced early setbacks, starting from pole but losing positions to Verstappen and both Ferrari drivers. A controversial moment followed when he received a five-second penalty for going off track while overtaking Verstappen near the race’s conclusion.

Although Verstappen also ran wide while defending, only Norris was penalized, a decision McLaren is now seeking to appeal. Norris has voiced his disagreement with the penalty, underscoring that he and his team felt the judgment was unwarranted, especially given the similar maneuvers from both drivers.

Despite the challenges, Norris remains committed to refining his approach, balancing between aggression and caution as needed to elevate his performance. He has yet to discuss the incident directly with Verstappen, noting that they both acted as they felt appropriate. Going forward, Norris is prepared to make whatever minor adjustments are necessary, confident that fine-tuning his tactics, rather than a complete overhaul, will enable him to better handle battles with Verstappen and strengthen his position in future races.

Lando Norris Aims to Bridge Gap with Max Verstappen Ahead of Mexico City GP

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