During the podium celebrations, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were seen together.
McLaren driver Lando Norris says “it’s about time someone put Max Verstappen under pressure” after emerging as Red Bull’s biggest threat over recent weeks.
Max Verstappen stands as the dominant force of F1’s modern era, having won 49 of the last 73 races stretching back to the start of his maiden title-winning season in F1 2021.
Lando Norris not ruling out Max Verstappen F1 2024 title challenge
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
The Dutchman claimed his fifth victory of the first seven races of F1 2024 at last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, withstanding late pressure from Lando Norris to take the chequered flag by 0.725 seconds.
After Norris won his first F1 race at the previous event in Miami, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz prevented Verstappen from matching his own record of 10 consecutive wins at the Australian Grand Prix in March.
McLaren driver, Norris, believes that it is high time for the three-time World Champion, Verstappen, to start feeling the pressure once more, as McLaren and Ferrari appear to be bridging the gap after Red Bull’s dominant performance in F1 2023, where they claimed victory in 21 out of 22 races, with Verstappen securing 19 of those wins.
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In retrospect of giving Verstappen a tough competition at Imola, Norris shared with Sky Sports News, “I made all the decisions I thought were correct at that moment.”
“When it’s nearly within reach, there’s always that lingering thought: ‘What could I have done ever so slightly differently?'”
“But there is always room for improvement, for doing things a little better or a little differently. I’m certain Max would agree if he reviewed the same situation.”
“It provided some satisfaction to learn that it wasn’t a simple task for him. It was overdue for someone to challenge him and make him experience a touch of anxiety once more, as I’m certain he hadn’t encountered it in quite some time.”
“I’ve never been one to exude overconfidence, but I aspire to approach races with the belief that we can compete against Red Bull and Ferrari. It’s important for us to recognize that we are now in the same league as them.”
Despite trailing Verstappen by 60 points leading up to this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, Norris is determined not to dismiss the possibility of a potential F1 2024 title contention. He acknowledges that McLaren’s improved performance in recent races has changed his perspective, and he no longer wishes to underestimate what they can accomplish.
He expressed, “Considering we’re only one-third of the way through, we still have a substantial distance to cover, which leaves room for numerous possibilities.”
“But in Monaco, anything is possible, so I would never refuse anymore.”
“I’m tired of constantly underestimating the potential achievements of our team.”
“We have been performing exceptionally well, with a consistent record of achieving second, first, and second places. There is no justification for us not being able to maintain this success in Monaco.”
Although it’s not recognized as our finest track, one must acknowledge that anything is possible.
Following the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Norris asserted that the competition among the frontrunners has become incredibly fierce, stating that the drivers possess the ability to make a significant impact.
He stated to the media, including PlanetF1.com, that the outcome relies on one’s driving abilities. In his opinion, the qualifying sessions demonstrate that we are all quite evenly matched.
“If Max hadn’t benefited from Nico Hulkenberg’s slipstream, we might have been slightly ahead of [Red Bull] on Saturday.”
“If Oscar hadn’t received a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in Q1, we would have secured a one-two on the grid. Hence, it can be inferred that our car was the strongest in qualifying.”
When it comes to the race, I believe that skillful driving plays a bigger role than the type of car you have. If you push too hard, you risk losing control; if you drive too cautiously, you’ll simply fall behind.
The key lies in the driver’s ability to assess and adhere to the appropriate limits. It wouldn’t be fair to simply label one car as faster and another as slower.
“I believe the competition is incredibly close, and when there is only a one-tenth difference in qualifying, it is difficult to confidently say that one person was significantly better than the other.”
I hope it carries on in the same way as it is both thrilling and challenging, giving you a sense of anticipation every weekend.
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