Lando Norris has cheekily suggested Max Verstappen should pursue a career in comedy after the reigning Formula 1 champion claimed he could have clinched the 2024 title much earlier if he had been driving Norris’ McLaren MCL38.
Verstappen sealed his fourth Drivers’ Championship this season under challenging circumstances, with the Red Bull driver enduring a 10-race winless streak between victories in Spain and Sao Paulo, grappling with balance issues impacting the competitivity of his RB20.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s resurgence turned the MCL38 into a formidable contender, leading Verstappen to tell De Telegraaf that he could have secured the title “a lot sooner” had he been driving Norris’ car.
But Norris dismissed Verstappen’s bold claim with a playful jab.
“He should start doing comedy or something,” Norris said, speaking in Lusail ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
“He can say whatever he wants. Of course, I completely disagree, as I would. He’s good, but, yeah, it’s not true.”
Norris wasn’t alone in refuting Verstappen’s statement. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also chimed in, expressing skepticism for the Dutchman’s assertion which he said was “a bit of stretch”.
“It’s very difficult to say something like that not knowing actually what the car is like,” commented the Ferrari driver. “So, it’s maybe a bit of a stretch to say something like that.”
Verstappen’s fourth title was remarkable given Red Bull’s struggles in 2024. The team is currently third in the Constructors’ Championship, a rare position for a title-winning driver.
If Red Bull finishes the season there, Verstappen would become the first Drivers’ Champion for a team ranked third or lower in the Constructors’ since Nelson Piquet’s 1983 triumph with Brabham.
Norris suggested the reason for Red Bull not leading the championship was simply the massive disparity between Verstappen and his teammate, Sergio Perez, who currently sits is eighth in the Drivers’ standings, 251 points behind the Dutchman.
“Red Bull probably would have won the constructors’ if they had two drivers as good as Max, that’s for sure,” added Norris. “That’s clear. That’s obvious.
“It shows that as a team they’ve still probably done the best job. It’s tough.
“Max has proved with everybody that he’s gone up against, he’s beaten. That’s tough for any team-mate. It’s got nothing to do with me. I don’t care. He can have any team-mate he wants.”
Norris also defended McLaren’s journey this season, arguing that their early struggles were far greater than what Red Bull endured mid-season.
“We were the fourth-best team at the beginning of the year,” Norris said. “Red Bull have never been the fourth-best team, or worst let’s say, ever.”
While Verstappen's claim may have sparked debate, it's clear that Norris and other drivers believe that the Dutchman's dominance is a testament to his exceptional talent and the strength of the Red Bull team, rather than the competitiveness of the McLaren car.
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