The upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix promises to be the decider in the drivers’ championship. Only if Lando Norris gains three or more points on rival Max Verstappen, will he still have a chance at the title. The current difference between the two is sixty-two points. So far, Norris looks back on his title chase with satisfaction, although he realizes that certain moments have cost him dearly.
“If there’s one thing I’ve always done well in my career, it’s avoiding problems and keeping the car intact,” the Brit said after the São Paulo Grand Prix to Motorsport Week. “At the end of the season, that pays off, especially now that the costs for the teams are higher than ever. Nevertheless, I’ve always had the mentality that you should race fairly and cleanly. Admittedly, maybe I’ve been too nice at times, whether I was attacking or defending. But I think I’ve always made the right decisions.”
‘Not aggressive enough’
Norris admits that this season – in which he had a chance at a title for the first time – he probably left points on the table because he wasn’t tough enough on his closest competitors. “Sometimes I wasn’t aggressive enough, and that has cost me in retrospect,” he explained. “But otherwise, it’s not down to me. You don’t see everything on TV. Sometimes you just have to avoid a potential crash. That happens more often than people think.”
If Lando Norris wants to deny his Dutch rival the title, he will have to gain at least three points in Las Vegas. If the difference after the race weekend in Nevada is not fifty-nine points, the Brit can no longer become champion mathematically. To gain three points, Norris must essentially always finish ahead of Verstappen in Las Vegas.
