Norris on his duel with Verstappen: “As soon as I put on the helmet, I hate everyone”
Back to 52 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship, Lando Norris has spoken about the impact of their good relationship off the track in their title battle. For the Briton, this is not a hindrance, on the contrary.
Thanks to his good results in the last Grand Prix races, Norris is gradually closing in on Verstappen at the top of the standings. With six more race weekends to go (including three in sprint format), the British driver can still dream of the title.
Some observers believe that the friendly relationship between the two men could harm their on-track confrontations. However, the McLaren driver refuted this idea in an interview with The Athletic: “As soon as I put on the helmet, I hate everyone. That doesn’t change.”
The 24-year-old driver also wanted to clarify the perception of his relationship with the triple world champion. « Many people think that because I get along well with someone here, or because, I don’t know, I play a game with someone, you are the best friends in the world in life, whatever you do. It’s nonsense », specified number 4.
A friendship source of motivation
Norris acknowledges having good ties with Max Verstappen, who is two years older (27 years old for the Dutchman, Norris will be 25 years old in November). “We have the same interests,” said the McLaren driver. “We play paddle together, that kind of thing. And I like Max, I think he is very sincere. But it doesn’t change anything when I’m on the track.”
The triple Grand Prix winner believes that this friendship strengthens the competition: « They think that because you are buddies, you are too nice on the track. I think it’s quite the opposite ». Good understanding does, in fact, allow more freedom in duels, with mistakes being more easily forgiven.
A first heated confrontation in Austria
The progress of the MCL38 has allowed Norris to compete with Verstappen’s RB20 for the first time this season, the performance gap having been too significant in the past to offer a real duel. Their first clash, at the Austrian Grand Prix last June, ended with the British driver retiring after contact between the two drivers. Verstappen, forced to pit due to a puncture, finished fifth.
CREVAISON POUR VERSTAPPEN ET NORRIS 🤯🤯
Alors qu’ils se battaient pour la première place Max et Lando ont tout perdu 😱#AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/o6sEgCjvCO
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) June 30, 2024
Norris had criticized his opponent’s defense, deemed too aggressive, arguing that he had gone too far, defending himself in a stupid and desperate way. Verstappen had justified himself by invoking his winning mentality: “I am here to win, not to take second place.”
If this incident occurred at a time in the season when the title duel still seemed utopian for Norris (he had a 71-point deficit before the race), the situation is very different at the end of this season, as the tide seems to have turned between Red Bull and McLaren. The Briton acknowledges that the driver with the number 1 benefits from the advantage of experience. [Verstappen] is probably one of the most aware of situations. And he has been helped by the fact that he has been in this position for the last four or five years. For me, it’s still all new. Friendship or not, Norris is determined to give it his all in the fight for the title.
