Lando Norris makes his mea culpa and congratulates Max Verstappen

Lando Norris has revisited his remarks where he described Max Verstappen as all luck and no talent after the São Paulo Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver made this sarcastic remark after a setback in the battle for the drivers’ title in Brazil. Max Verstappen had taken advantage of the timing of the red flag to win the race at Interlagos, starting from 17th on the grid. In contrast, starting from pole position, Lando Norris only finished sixth after running wide twice.

After the race, Norris criticized the red flag rule. « You can change tires under a red flag », stated Lando Norris to F1 TV. « That’s what others did. It’s just bad luck. Sometimes it goes your way. Nothing wrong on our side. I don’t care what people say. Staying out wasn’t the right decision. It shouldn’t have been a red flag, and there was the crash at the end that caused the red flag. That’s life sometimes. You take a risk, and it paid off for them. It’s not talent, it’s just luck. It’s a bit of bad luck, that’s all. »

At the time, Lando Norris’s comments sparked a lot of reactions, with some interpreting them as a sign of bad sportsmanship, especially since Max Verstappen had delivered one of the most impressive performances of his career. Aware of the magnitude it had taken, the vice world champion wanted to revisit the subject to close any controversy.

Norris revisits his comments

After receiving his trophy at the FIA awards ceremony on Friday for his second place in the 2024 drivers’ championship, Lando Norris reflected on his remarks after they were shown in a montage. “First of all, I withdraw the comment where I said it was all luck and no talent,” Norris stated. “You know how the media can alter things.”

The Briton admitted he would need to up his game if he wants to beat Max Verstappen in 2025. The battle between the two drivers is expected to enliven the next season once again.

« Congratulations to Max », added Norris. « What he did this year, what he did in Brazil, of course, was incredible, so I’m the first to acknowledge that when I’m the one challenging him. It was a tough season, of course. I tried to give my best and put up the best fight possible, but this year, it wasn’t enough. At the same time, sometimes I’m happy to finish second behind Max because I think it’s a great achievement to have done much better than that. So, a wonderful year for me. Many accomplishments, a lot of progress on my part, but I also know that I need to step up my game and do more than I did this year. So, I’m looking forward to next year and trying to do the same. »