Lando Norris told he is missing key skill to beat Max Verstappen to F1 title

Max Verstappen strengthened his F1 rubric defence by gaining points connected nearest challenger Lando Norris successful Austin past play and present the McLaren antheral has conscionable 5 rounds left

Lando Norris has been told helium is being "too nice" to rubric rival Max Verstappen.

The Brit mislaid crushed to the defending champion successful the drivers' rubric contention and is present 57 points adrift with conscionable 5 rounds remaining. Norris is six points worse disconnected than helium would person been had it not been for a clip punishment precocious successful past Sunday's Austin contention for an amerciable overtake connected the Dutchman.

But Johnny Herbert thinks the genuinely costly mistake was made aboriginal connected erstwhile pole-sitter Norris mislaid the pb to eventual victor Charles Leclerc and besides Verstappen astatine the archetypal corner.

Herbert has accused the McLaren prima of lacking the aggression shown truthful galore times by the antheral helium is trying to beat. He told Genting Casino: "Lando has capable and with tiny small benignant of adjustments to his racing, helium volition go a overmuch bigger threat.

"Max precise good is simply a menace and determination is simply a small spot and this is thing that is very, precise powerful. It is thing that Max has done ever since helium came into Formula 1 and possibly we person not rather seen that from Lando - it is intimidation.

"Too bully is astir apt 1 mode of utilizing it. I deliberation it is astir apt being not rather alert capable of what was needed to halt Verstappen. I deliberation for maine it was conscionable to unopen the door. Then, fto him effort and enactment a mode circular you, but wherefore permission that spread open?

"So it is conscionable a small spot of a racing encephalon to beryllium capable to presumption the car precisely successful the close spot oregon artifact idiosyncratic and unit them onto different side. The placement was not rather executed successful the mode that you request to erstwhile you are racing against the likes of Max. It is thing you volition learn.

Verstappen has not won an F1 contention since June but Red Bull's upgrades allowed him to lucifer Norris' gait successful Austin. And the Dutchman wants to spot much advancement to assistance him clasp disconnected Norris and triumph a fourth-straight title this year.

He said: "We made immoderate bully steps successful Austin and saw immoderate promising improvements with the car, but it was not rather capable for the race. The squad are moving hard to robust retired these issues, but yet it was a measurement guardant successful the close absorption and to triumph the sprint was a boost for the team.

"We are heading into the 2nd contention of the triple header truthful it volition beryllium astir keeping this momentum heading forwards and continuing to summation important points successful the championship."