F1 NEWS:Lando Norris dismisses Max Verstappen ‘threat’ suggestion: ‘I don’t need people to…read more
F1 NEWS:Lando Norris dismisses Max Verstappen ‘threat’ suggestion: ‘I don’t need people to…read more
The respect between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen goes back a long way.
Lando Norris has dismissed suggestions that he should be surprised Max Verstappen and Red Bull have quickly thrust themselves into this year’s F1 title fights.
Verstappen delivered a consummate performance across the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, claiming the 64th victory of his F1 career after producing one of the great qualifying laps to beat red-hot favourites McLaren, who were left second and third on the grid and in the race with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Up until Verstappen’s stunning qualifying display, it appeared as if it would comfortably be McLaren’s weekend to build on Norris’ season-opening victory in Australia, followed by Piastri’s triumph a week later in China.
But after “turning the car upside down”, according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner following Friday practice as the RB21 was again found wanting compared to its rivals, Verstappen then pulled out all the stops to deliver victory and move him to within a point of Norris at the top of the drivers’ standings.
Norris has often given Verstappen praise when it has been due in the past. On this question, when asked if Verstappen’s display over at Suzuka underlined why he will be a championship threat this season, despite McLaren possessing the better car, the Briton felt compelled to set the record straight.
“I feel I get a lot of questions like, ‘Are you surprised by Max?’ when he has a day like [in qualifying] or a race like [on Sunday],” said Norris, speaking to media.
“And I guess people always expect me to say yes, but I don’t think there is a reason to be. I don’t think I ever have. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Max.
“There are those moments when you’re in the car, when you’re driving, you know what is good and what is not. I don’t need anyone to tell me what Max is capable of doing or whether I should think this or that.
“Of course, I’ve always got my own opinions, but I’m always going to have the respect. I know how good he’s been since we shook hands back in 2015 or something, 2014, and I was half the height I am now. I don’t need people to tell me these things.
“People seem shocked when I say I’m not surprised and stuff like that, but I know how good he is. I know what he’s capable of doing. So I would say nothing is a surprise anymore.
“I still believe that we’re going to have some good races and we can go toe-to-toe, and that some days he’ll come out on top and others I will.”
