Lando Norris: « Nobody is having a good time » racing with Max Verstappen

Lando Norris stated that no one is having a good time racing against Max Verstappen, after several clashes with the four-time Formula 1 world champion during the past season.

The McLaren driver won the closing Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, offering his team their first Constructors’ Championship title since 1998, despite Ferrari’s late surge. However, tension rose at McLaren when Oscar Piastri was knocked out of second place at the first corner after contact with Max Verstappen, who received a 10-second penalty for the incident.

Lando Norris himself experienced several encounters with the Red Bull driver in 2024, notably at the Austrian Grand Prix, where their contact eliminated the Brit, at the United States Grand Prix, where Lando Norris was penalized after a battle for a position, and at the Mexican Grand Prix, where Verstappen was sanctioned by the stewards.

A battle until the end

Analyzing his season, Lando Norris spoke about his improving performances and stated he has not lost confidence against Verstappen.

“I have clearly raised my level this season,” he stated. “I obviously lost on certain points, maybe during three starts this year, which caused me to lose one or two positions at certain times.”

« But these positions were often against Max Verstappen. Or it was Budapest, one to Oscar, little things like that. But none of them, when I look back, made me think that I didn’t have what it took. »

Regarding his on-track battles with Verstappen, Norris added: « Facing Max in any situation is always difficult, and no one has a good time against him. I think Mexico marked a turning point, showing that not everything he does is perfect. If we go back to Austin, at turn 12, almost everyone, both drivers and external observers, felt that the penalty I received was not justified. Either none of us should have been penalized, or both should have been. »

Norris had the pace this season.

« From a rhythm perspective, I haven’t doubted myself this year, and I think I’ve given myself more confidence. During qualifying, I remember that 12 months ago here, I missed my lap in Q3. It was a lap where I should have finished P2, but I made a big mistake in turns 12 and 13. That really frustrated me. This year, it didn’t happen. »

« I improved all these aspects and especially the one-on-one battle, against one of the best in the world. What you don’t see from the outside are those moments where, if I had acted differently, we would have crashed. Those moments where you agree to lose a battle, because it was necessary in the first six or seven races of the year where we lost too many points », he continued.

« I’m not saying I didn’t have what it takes this season to compete with Max and achieve my goals. But this experience clearly showed me that if I improve certain details, I now have the confidence to say that I do have what it takes. »