Lando Norris admits harsh reality of Max Verstappen fight and snaps back at F1 critics

Max Verstappen tin unafraid the 2024 Formula 1 drivers' rubric astatine the Las Vegas Grand Prix aft landing a important stroke connected nearest challenger Lando Norris past clip retired successful Brazil

Lando Norris insists helium is "very happy" with his play contempt rival Max Verstappen being connected the cusp of a fourth-straight Formula 1 title.

The Brit, 25, has been the main challenger to Verstappen this twelvemonth and was closing successful until the Red Bull racer won from 17th successful Brazil earlier this month. Norris started connected rod but finished down successful sixth and that effect leaves the McLaren antheral needing a miracle.

Verstappen, 27, tin unafraid the title successful Las Vegas this play but, still, Norris told The Race: "My play has been amended than radical person thought.

"There person decidedly been immoderate missed opportunities, that is simply a fact, but I americium precise blessed with my full season. I inactive consciousness similar I person got a batch retired of it. Things person not conscionable gone to plan. So galore things tin inactive easy spell against you, adjacent erstwhile you person the champion car."

McLaren person so had a car that has often been the people of the tract this year. As a result, they are successful rod presumption for a archetypal constructors' rubric since 1998. But Norris insists it has been overmuch tougher for him than galore realise.

He said: "When radical deliberation we person had the astir ascendant car ever... I person been connected rod by 3 thousandths oregon 5 thousandths oregon 2 hundredths, and those positions are positions that conscionable enactment for the remainder of the race.

"I person ever known that - it is conscionable the harsh world of erstwhile you are there, and really you are surviving that situation. The happening is abruptly I americium warring them for a win, truthful not doing a cleanable occupation against these drivers, chiefly Max successful this case, means I triumph a contention oregon I bash not."

For his nonaccomplishment to successfully bushed Verstappen to the drivers' rubric this year, Norris has received plentifulness of criticism. And helium was besides slammed for suggesting Verstappen's triumph successful Brazil was "not talent, conscionable luck".

Norris often wears his bosom connected his sleeve successful post-session interviews but inactive helium "does not recognize however radical person got the perception" that helium is arrogant. He replied: "I find it is simply a small spot weird... When radical deliberation my ego is excessively large oregon something, it could not beryllium further from the information - particularly erstwhile I americium driving.

"Maybe sometimes I take the incorrect words oregon something, and radical someway usage that against me. I person ever been honorable erstwhile I person done a bully occupation and done a atrocious job. I americium precise blessed with the radical I person astir me, my group. They are the radical who are being much honorable with maine astir erstwhile I americium doing good oregon erstwhile I americium not, oregon whether I americium being a d** and erstwhile I americium not."