Lando Norris admission speaks volumes as Max Verstappen F1 title chase made harder

Lando Norris has had a terrific Formula One play aft 3 contention wins and 11 podiums, emerging arsenic the main menace to Max Verstappen's crown alongside Ferrari's Charles LeClerc.

Lando Norris has admitted helium "couldn't spell immoderate quicker" and made "mistakes" aft finishing down Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen successful Mexican Grand Prix qualifying.

Norris is attempting to pursuit Verstappen astatine the apical of the Formula One drivers leaderboard, trailing the Dutchman by 57 points and his pursuit of his rival was made harder aft missing retired connected rod presumption to Sainz pursuing a melodramatic race.

The Brit has had a terrific play aft 3 contention wins and 11 podiums, emerging arsenic the main menace to Verstappen's crown alongside Ferrari's Charles LeClerc.

But aft the qualifying, Norris conceded helium was powerless to decorativeness down Sainz and Verstappen - admitting that it would beryllium "challenging" to bushed them successful the main contention connected Sunday.

"I was astatine the limit, I couldn’t spell immoderate quicker," helium said. "It’s much that the others conscionable didn’t get the astir retired of it. Pretty overmuch each corner, I was adjacent to locking up and making mistakes. I did that successful my Q3 tally 1 lap, but I had decidedly obscurity adjacent to three-tenths near successful the car. So it was much that they conscionable went quicker.

"I was astatine the limit, I got everything retired of the car already successful Q1 and Q2. Made america look similar the ones to beat, but honestly since FP1, Ferrari person been the guys to beat, and Carlos is connected apical today. Challenging to bushed them tomorrow."

Norris is known for being candid successful interviews and this week helium suggested helium whitethorn not beryllium bully capable to bushed Verstappen to the title, saying helium was "not rather astatine his level".

He said: "Max is the champion successful the world successful that benignant of defence and attack, and I’m going up against the champion successful the world.

"Therefore, I request to beryllium astatine his level, and I’m not rather astatine his level. It is simply a shame to accidental but it is astir apt the truth. It’s an acquisition for maine and get better."

"I’m learning from Max. Nobody tin propulsion it to the limits and recognize what helium tin bash amended than him. About 99 per cent of the clip he’s arsenic connected the bounds arsenic helium tin beryllium and correct. He’s astatine the modular each operator needs to beryllium at."