Lando Norris admits ‘probably too late’ for Formula One title dream
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McLaren's Lando Norris makes a pit stop during the first practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
PHOTO: AFP
LAS VEGAS – McLaren’s Lando Norris said he has acquired the experience to challenge for a Formula One world championship, but it is “probably too late” to stop Max Verstappen taking a fourth consecutive title on Nov 23.
Verstappen, on 393 points, holds a 62-point lead over Norris, on 331, with 60 more points to be won after the Vegas race. He needs only to stay ahead of Norris, or keep the McLaren driver out of the top nine finishers with the fastest lap, to retain his crown.
Las Vegas is the first of a triple-header finale to the season, followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
“It’s been the first time that we’ve had a chance to fight at the front,” said Norris on Nov 21.
“I was definitely not at the level I needed to be at the beginning of the year, but since the summer break I feel I’ve done a very good job and performed very well, by far some of my best.
“I’m not completely happy with what I’ve done, but for the first time I feel I have got what it takes. I wasn’t outright ready to go up against Red Bull and Max. I think I am now, but it is probably too late.”
After a salutary experience at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where Verstappen ended a 10-race winless run, Norris conceded the “door is almost shut” on his title bid.
“Max is one of the best drivers ever in F1 and to go up against that person who is so good takes a bit more than I have done this season,” the 25-year-old added. “When you are competing against drivers like Max you have to be close to perfect. The main thing I can take away is I have faith I have what it takes to fight for a championship.”
McLaren no longer will have their drivers adhere to a pecking order at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri said he does not have to operate in a support role for Norris, now that the Briton’s hopes of a drivers’ championship are in long-shot mode. “Pretty much, yes,” he said, when asked if team strategy has changed.
Dubbed the “Papaya Rules”, the Australian was required to make sure Norris could secure as many points as possible to keep the pressure on Verstappen. That meant he was forced to back off a sprint race in Brazil on Nov 2, to let Norris pass for overall points considerations.
Norris won to earn eight points and took a further eight points for finishing sixth on Nov 3. Verstappen went on to win the grand prix, adding 26 points. Piastri, second in the sprint, finished eighth and gained four points.
But Piastri’s “pretty much” comment suggests that he is not quite free to operate as he pleases in all circumstances.
“There’s still some, let’s say, very specific scenarios where I might be needed to help out,” he said. “But for the very large majority of situations, it’s back to how it was.”
While Verstappen has a solid grip on the drivers’ championship, McLaren still have their sights on the constructors’ title. They head to Las Vegas in the lead with 593 points, ahead of Ferrari (557) and Red Bull (544).
To his credit, Piastri has not objected to operating in a support role for his teammate. His goal is to be the one who is getting all the help in 2025.
“Obviously next year, I want to make sure that I’m not in a position, championship-wise, to be subject to that,” the 23-year-old said. “But in reality, I probably needed to help out that one time in Brazil and that’s been it. So it’s been a lot of talk, but not much on-track action.” AFP, REUTERS