Verstappen 'should start doing comedy' - Norris

Verstappen 'should start doing comedy' - Norris

Lando Norris has remarked that Max Verstappen "should consider a career in comedy" following the Dutch driver's assertion that he could have secured the world championship while driving for McLaren. Verstappen, a driver for Red Bull, made these comments based on his conviction that the McLaren was the superior vehicle for a significant portion of the season. "He is entitled to his opinion, but I completely disagree, as expected," Norris stated. "He is talented, yet that assertion is unfounded. "I recognize Max's capabilities and appreciate his self-assurance, but I can express my views freely. It simply isn't feasible." After winning the title at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen claimed that he would have clinched the championship earlier had he been in a McLaren, suggesting that the outcome would have been "essentially the same" in a Ferrari. Norris admitted to having "perhaps made too many errors" throughout the season and conceded that the McLaren had indeed been faster for more than half of the races.

However, he emphasized that Verstappen had established a significant lead during the early part of the season when Red Bull was in a dominant position, winning four of the first five races while the McLaren lagged behind. "For the majority of the season, we had a more competitive car than Red Bull, but when I was achieving victories, he was finishing second or third, and when he was winning, I was in fifth or sixth place," Norris explained. "I do not believe we could have or deserved to win the championship as drivers, but I am optimistic that for the first time in my career, we will enter a season with the intention of contending for the title. This was not anticipated for this year." In the initial five races of the season, Red Bull averaged 0.45 seconds per lap faster than McLaren in qualifying, and during the first half of the season, they were 0.23 seconds quicker.

However, McLaren has reversed this trend in the latter half of the season, with their car qualifying on average 0.124 seconds faster than Red Bull. Despite this, Verstappen's average qualifying position for the year stands at 2.5, compared to Norris' 3.7. Norris has faced competition from his teammate Oscar Piastri, who has secured two victories compared to Norris' three, while Verstappen has consistently outperformed the other Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez. "He has to manage all his responsibilities independently, which is commendable," Norris remarked. "He lacks a teammate who can challenge him or experiment with the car setup. "The data becomes less insightful when there is no one performing at a comparable level. "Max is capable of many remarkable feats. Driving at such a high level consistently without a teammate to provide any form of competition undoubtedly complicates his situation. "Conversely, there is no pressure on him. He does not have to contend with a teammate, which offers a certain degree of comfort." Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, currently third in the championship as the season approaches its final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, also expressed skepticism regarding Verstappen’s assertions. Leclerc recognized Verstappen as a "very special driver," noting, "What distinguishes him is the confidence he possesses."

However, he added, "It is challenging to make such statements without truly understanding the car's performance." "He is undoubtedly an exceptional driver. Whether he would have succeeded in the 2024 Ferrari is uncertain, as he lacks insight into the capabilities of the Red Bull and McLaren, just as I do not know the Ferrari's performance. "Thus, it may be somewhat exaggerated to make such claims."

McLaren currently leads Ferrari by 24 points in the constructors' championship, with 103 points still up for grabs. Red Bull sits in third place, trailing by 53 points. McLaren is striving for their first constructors' title since 1998, while Ferrari aims for their first since 2008.