Lando Norris identifies Max Verstappen as the toughest competitor in a Formula 1 race. Currently, the British driver is battling for the world title against the Dutchman, acknowledging the advantages his friend has over him as a McLaren driver.
Lando Norris is steadily closing the gap on Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship. The Brit is only 52 points behind his title rival, but he doesn’t believe it will be easy to overtake the Red Bull driver.
“Max is probably the hardest man to race against on the track,” Norris tells The Telegraph. “He’s probably one of the best drivers when it comes to assessing situations. And he’s aided (in the title fight) by the fact that he’s been in this position for four or five years. For me, it’s still quite new.”
Overtaking in Austria
Norris and Verstappen have encountered each other on the track several times this season, with the collision in Austria being the highlight. The Brit was unable to finish his race, while the Dutchman managed to secure a fifth-place finish. Norris’s loss of points during the race at the Red Bull Ring could be a determining factor in who ultimately wins the world title.
“It didn’t go as I wanted,” the Brit reflects on that Sunday in Austria. “And I still feel that I probably won the battle (regarding) engaging him in a fight. Although I didn’t win (regarding) who came out on top that day.”
Despite their increasingly intense title fight, Norris and Verstappen remain good friends off the track. The McLaren driver explains that the battle with the Dutchman on the track is not personal. “As soon as I put on the helmet, I hate everyone,” Norris explains.
