Lando Norris has come to terms with the reality that Max Verstappen’s main objective for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season isn’t necessarily winning races but simply finishing ahead of him.
Ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix and with five races to go, Verstappen enjoys a relatively comfortable 57-point advantage over Norris, while the renewed strength displayed by Red Bull in Austin also bodes well for the Dutchman’s championship prospects.
Verstappen’s approach has therefore shifted towards consistency rather than outright victories, compelling Norris to adapt his own strategy.
"We saw Max didn’t care if he won or was second or third, his only job was to beat me and he did that - so he did a good job from that side," commented the McLaren driver, revisiting last weekend’s battle in Austin.
"I had a lot of fun and I respected the battle that we had. He still ended up on top and I need to be beating him. So some little things I need to change but I don’t need to change my whole approach.”
Despite the intensity of his rivalry with Verstappen, Norris remains committed to clean racing, aiming to avoid risky situations that could end in collisions.
"I am still staying clear and avoiding collisions which a lot of things that we have done could have been or turned into worse things like bigger crashes. I avoid them and therefore races could’ve ended earlier than they have.
"Getting caught up in collisions like Turn 1 or Turn 12 could’ve easily been that he's in a much more powerful position than I'm in, so it's up to me and the team to try to overcome that."
Norris elaborated on the controversial moment at Turn 12, defending his decision to hold the position rather than conceding it to Verstappen.
"It is too easy for people to say this [give the place back]. My tyres were getting hotter and hotter and getting away from me more and more," he explained.
"My pace difference to Max was decreasing, so if I let him back past there might not have been a chance to get past him again."
Norris emphasized that his actions were based on real-time assessments and communication with his team.
"I am always just trying to do what I think is best at the time and within the rules which I believe to be correct. Sometimes it is difficult, hence why I asked the team 'what do you guys think?'."
Norris also pointed out that a more proactive stance from race stewards in such incidents could lead to clearer outcomes.
"Ideally the stewards would say 'we don’t think this is right, give the position back,' that would be a much more simple thing to do, but that's not how it works," he said.
"I think we are doing a good job as a team; I think our approach is correct, but sometimes you don’t come up on top," he acknowledged.
As the season heads into its final stretch, the focus for Norris and McLaren will be on matching Verstappen’s consistency and making the most of their opportunities to close the championship gap.
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