Jordan doubtful of Norris F1 title potential: ‘He hasn’t got it’

The always candid and outspoken Eddie Jordan has cast serious doubt on Lando Norris’ prospects of becoming a Formula 1 world champion, claiming the 24-year-old simply “hasn’t got it”.

Speaking on the Formula For Success podcast alongside host David Coulthard, Jordan offered a no-holds-barred critique of Norris’ missed opportunities this season, and particularly of his performance in last weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

As Norris took pole at Interlagos, hopes were high that the McLaren driver might claw back more points from championship leader Max Verstappen.

However, the Red Bull charger’s stunning drive from 17th place to victory stole the spotlight, and Norris’ sixth-place result highlighted the gap between the two contenders.

Coulthard acknowledged that Norris’ title aspirations suffered a major setback in Sao Paulo but was quick to remind listeners that the McLaren driver’s potential remains intact.

“Lando is the real deal, he will have his moment,” commented the former Grand Prix driver.

“He will challenge for the world title, whether it’s in the remaining races of this year or whether it’s next year when there’s an element of stability, and McLaren are certainly going into, arguably, the best place for that. So, his time will come.”

• Read also: Brundle wonders if Norris has ‘killer instinct’ to fight Verstappen

Yet Jordan was unpersuaded by Coulthard’s optimism, arguing that Norris’ current performances lack the hallmarks of a true champion. For Jordan, Verstappen’s charge to victory underscored what Norris has yet to demonstrate.

Unsparing in his assessment, Jordan pointed to Norris’ perceived shortcomings under pressure.

“Lando hasn’t quite got there yet,” he said. “He hasn’t got there on the start, he hasn’t got there on the pole position run to the corner.

“He has the speed, beyond any doubt, but there’s nothing in me that tells me that I’ve seen in Lando something that I saw [in] what Max could do on Sunday. Nothing, I’m sorry, it’s just not there.”

There’s no denying that Norris has certainly had flashes of brilliance this season. His first F1 victory came at the Miami Grand Prix with help from a timely Safety Car, and he claimed dominant wins in the Netherlands and Singapore, each time outpacing Verstappen by over 20 seconds.

However, his inability to consistently challenge Verstappen on a race-by-race basis has kept him out of serious contention for the title.

In Jordan’s view, Norris needs to reflect deeply on his performances if he ever hopes to reach championship caliber.

“Lando has to look at himself long and hard this winter into the mirror and say to himself: ‘If I’m going to be a great World Champion, I have a lot to learn here, and I need to start replaying those videos about what it really is like to be hard, tough, and victorious.’

“And I’m sorry, at this moment in time, he hasn’t got it.”

When Coulthard reacted to the harsh critique, calling Jordan “a hard, hard man,” Jordan didn’t hold back.

“It’s a fact, he hasn’t translated those into race wins. He d*cked around on the podium, he’s d*cked around on the start line. Honestly, how many races should he have won this year?”

Jordan’s unforgiving evaluation may come as a blow to Norris fans, but it’s also a challenge: if Norris is to rise to the top, he’ll need to embody the unrelenting drive of a champion.

“For now, however, Jordan remains unconvinced that Norris has “got it.”

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