Lando Norris on Max Verstappen's F1 Title Threat After Vegas DQ
Lando Norris states his team's approach to Max Verstappen remains unchanged despite the points gap shrinking to 24 after McLaren's Las Vegas disqualification. Verstappen's late-season surge has made him a significant F1 title threat, but Norris insists McLaren will continue to treat him as they have all year, focusing on their performance in the final two rounds.
Lando Norris maintains his approach to Max Verstappen will not change, despite the Dutchman closing the points gap to just 24 after the McLaren disqualification in Las Vegas. Verstappen, initially not seen as a primary contender, has surged post-summer break, now posing a significant challenge to Norris in the drivers' championship.
Why it matters:
Max Verstappen's late-season charge, amplified by McLaren's double disqualification in Las Vegas, has dramatically tightened the F1 drivers' championship. What was once a comfortable lead for McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, has now become a tense fight with only two rounds left, including a sprint weekend in Qatar. This unexpected twist sets up a thrilling conclusion to the season, challenging McLaren's consistency and strategy under pressure.
The Details:
- Points Gap Narrowed: Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix disqualifications for both McLarens, Max Verstappen is now only 24 points behind Lando Norris in the drivers' standings.
- Verstappen's Resurgence: After the summer break, Verstappen found an uptick in form, transforming him from an outside contender to a serious title threat.
- Norris's Stance: Norris asserts that McLaren's approach to Verstappen remains unchanged, stating, “We've treated him as a threat the whole year, even when he was a few more points behind.”
- Team Consistency: Norris emphasized that the team — engineers, mechanics, and himself — will continue to operate normally, focusing on their established procedures rather than making special adjustments for Verstappen's challenge.
- Equal Threat Perception: Norris views both Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri as equally formidable competitors, dismissing any notion of one being a greater threat than the other. He stated, “Both are the same, they're both just as good as one another.”
The Big Picture:
This championship battle marks a significant shift from earlier in the season when McLaren drivers, Norris and Piastri, largely dominated. Verstappen's late surge highlights Red Bull's underlying potential and their ability to capitalize on rivals' setbacks. The tight competition adds immense pressure on McLaren to maintain their performance and strategic precision in the final races, especially with additional points available in the Qatar sprint format. This high-stakes conclusion could redefine the narratives for all three drivers heading into the off-season.
What's next:
The F1 season concludes with two critical rounds, starting with the sprint format weekend in Qatar, where extra points are up for grabs. This will be a crucial test for McLaren to demonstrate their resilience and defend their championship lead against a determined Max Verstappen. The outcome will depend heavily on both team performance and individual driver consistency under immense pressure. Should Norris hold on, it would be a testament to McLaren's improved machinery and his own driving prowess; if Verstappen triumphs, it would cap off a remarkable comeback.