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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are the biggest rivals this season, both aiming for the championship. While Verstappen seems motivated to win the championship gain, the young Brit won’t give up easily and is determined to secure victories in upcoming races.
Red Bull's recent win in Austin worried McLaren, but they recognized the need to accept the situation.
In a media interview, Norris reflected on Verstappen's performances, stating that Verstappen's sole focus this season is to beat him. The McLaren driver is looking to improve his performance to compete with Verstappen, with the outcome now seemingly coming down to slight differences.
"We saw Max didn’t care if he won or was second or third, his only job was to beat me and he did that - so he did a good job from that side," Norris said, as quoted by Auto Sport.
"I had a lot of fun and I respected the battle that we had. He still ended up on top and I need to be beating him. So some little things I need to change but I don’t need to change my whole approach."
Norris emphasized his focus on avoiding collisions during races, stressing that many situations could have escalated into more serious crashes. He acknowledged that steering clear of these incidents has allowed him to finish races that might have ended prematurely.
The young driver pointed out that getting involved in collisions, especially in critical areas like Turn 1 or Turn 12, could put him at a disadvantage, given the power dynamics on the track. Finally, he stressed that it’s up to him and his team to find ways to overcome these difficulties.
The 24-year-old experienced a specific incident in Austin, but Norris isn’t too worried about it. He pointed out that his tires were hotter, and the pace difference was also a significant factor. Norris understood that he needed to make a decisive move in that situation.
"It is too easy for people to say this [give the place back]. My tyres were getting hotter and hotter and getting away from me more and more.
My pace difference to Max was decreasing, so if I let him back past there might not have been a chance to get past him again."
Norris stressed that he always tries to make the best decisions based on the rules he believes are correct. He admitted that it can be difficult, which is why he often consults his team for their opinions.
No matter how talented a driver you are or how much knowledge you possess, there will always be moments when you won't know what move to make or what to expect. The British driver has faced many dilemmas throughout the season, but it must be acknowledged that he has performed greatly alongside Red Bull, who remains the main favorite just like in previous seasons. Norris has managed to question the decision-makers of the Austrian team. Of course, Verstappen is still in the lead, but who knows what the next week or the upcoming seasons might bring.
McLaren driver mentioned that ideally, the stewards would simply instruct drivers to give back positions if something wasn’t right, but that’s not how it works. Norris felt he was justified in his actions and had the team's support, so he chose to move forward. 24-year-old believes his team is doing a good job and that their approach is on the right track, even if they don’t always end up on top.
Max Verstappen on the last race and F1 rules
Verstappen reflected on the recent race and his moments with Lando Norris, expressing that there are too many rules in Formula 1. Interestingly, he believes more regulations are needed, as F1 is a complex sport that involves many unpredictable situations worth discussing.
While no F1 driver wants to find themselves in tricky situations, it's crucial to know how to react in those moments. Despite being relatively young, both Verstappen and Norris have huge experience on the F1 tracks, which is vital when facing such situations.
"I think we are getting to a stage where I always need the book in the car! If you look of course over the years, the book has grown quite a lot,” Verstappen said.
It is definitely over-regulated, but then I can see the other point of if we take rules away, and there’s again an incident… ‘Oh, you need more rules! We need to be strong about this!’"
The rivalry between Norris and Verstappen could last even in the seasons ahead. It will be very interesting to follow what this duo has to offer us in the coming period.
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