Lando Norris has insisted that Max Verstappen has had a “relatively easy season” despite Red Bull’s slump in competitiveness as he clinched the 2024 Formula 1 title.
Verstappen’s fifth-place result, coupled with Norris bringing his McLaren home in a distant sixth, ensured he took the championship with two races to go in Las Vegas.
Norris capitalised on McLaren emerging as the benchmark team mid-season to threaten to beat Verstappen to a title that had seemed inevitable in the opening races.
However, Norris and McLaren were made to rue several mistakes over the campaign that enabled Verstappen to manage the advantage that he had built up earlier on.
Despite embarking upon a 10-race winless run as Red Bull’s struggles deteriorated, Verstappen return to the top step in Brazil set him up to seal the deal in Las Vegas.
Norris has admitted that Verstappen possessing no weaknesses and maximising his results at all times proved to be the decisive factor in the battle between the two.
“Massive congrats to him, he’s not put a foot wrong the whole year, that’s a strength of his, he has no downsides, he has no negatives,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.
“He’s had the quickest car, he dominated races, when he’s not had the quickest car he’s still been just behind us and almost winning the races anyway.
“He’s just not had a bad side to him and any bad races the whole year, his worst was something like a fifth.
“He’s just drove as Max as Max always does, perfectly and can’t fault him anywhere.”
Norris urges McLaren to ramp up pressure on Verstappen
Norris reiterated his assessment that the championship was lost over the nascent rounds when McLaren didn’t have the package to challenge Red Bull or Verstappen.
“I think he’s still had a relatively easy season,” Norris expressed.
“If we had a better car at the beginning of the year, we would have been fighting him a lot more and he would have been a lot more under pressure than he’s ever been.
“I think we put him under pressure as soon as we did. He made mistakes and it showed that he made mistakes.
“He made some mistakes, but over the course of the season that’s very few in terms of what he’s done and that’s what makes him so good.
“He’s not had a bad qualifying, he’s not had a bad race. I think his worst race was probably Budapest or something and he still finished fifth.
“He just gets everything out of the car every time and that’s always impressive to see. Always things to learn.”
Norris confident in renewed 2025 title bid
But despite his high praise towards Verstappen, Norris, who has bagged three wins this season, is convinced he has the minerals to mount a renewed title bid in 2025.
Asked what he has derived from this season, Norris responded: “A lot more positives than negatives, that’s for sure.
“I feel like I can fight for a championship and I’m happy and I can say that confidently. I have what it takes and I know that deep down that I have what it takes.
“I have some things to work on still for sure, but I can fight against Max and I’ll be happy to say that because I think Max is the best driver in the world.
“Probably one of the best drivers that’s ever been in Formula 1. Many people might disagree, but I’m quite confident when I say that, which is rare.
“For me to put up a fight against him and to go wheel to wheel is something I love, I enjoy. I’ll probably look back on a lot in 20 years or 30 years that I fought such a driver.
“I’m happy for him. He deserves the championship but hopefully I can upset him more next year.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris ‘proud’ McLaren took F1 title fight to Max Verstappen ‘this far’
