Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen (right) and McLaren’s Lando Norris (left), who finished third, laugh after the sprint race at the F1 United States Grand Prix held at the Circuit of the Americas. Required credit: Erich Schlegel-Imagn Images
MEXICO CITY – McLaren’s Lando Norris says he needs to make some changes if he is to compete at the same level as Red Bull rival and F1 leader Max Verstappen.
The British driver is second in the standings, with a 57-point lead with five races remaining, but after a controversial two-corner crash at last weekend’s American Grand Prix, Verstappen was third and fourth. It’s over.
Article continues after this ad
“Max is the best in the world with that defensive and attacking style. I also have to get to his level because I’m competing against the best players in the world,” he told F1 TV at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Thursday.
Read: F1: McLaren issues ‘inappropriate’ penalty as Lando Norris hopes to win title
“And I’m not at his level at all. I’m embarrassed to say this, but it’s probably true, but this is an experience for me and I can learn and get better.”
Article continues after this ad
Speaking to reporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the Englishman said he needed to “adapt a little more” against a rival whose only challenge was to finish first rather than try to win. .
“It was a lot of fun and I respected our fight. But certainly he came out on top in the end so I have to beat him,” Norris added.
“So there are some small things that need to change, but not the whole approach.”
Read: F1: Lando Norris elated after beating Verstappen in US GP pole position
Norris, who started from pole position, was defeated by Verstappen at the first corner and overtook both Ferraris for a one-two finish.
The British driver was then given a five-second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage when overtaking Verstappen with four laps to go, but the Dutchman also missed wide with his defence.
McLaren asked for the right to reconsider it.
“I haven’t talked to Max at all because he did what he thought was right,” Norris said. “I did what I thought was right.
“I still don’t agree and I don’t think the team still agrees and I think the majority of people who watched didn’t agree with the penalty I took.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Subscription completed successfully.
“But we’re going to make the changes we need to make, like sometimes being more aggressive or less aggressive.”
