Norris: McLaren's Slow Start Handed Verstappen an Easier Title Chase
Lando Norris reflects on how McLaren's slow season start impacted Max Verstappen's path to his fourth Formula 1 championship title.
Racecar driver gesturing with hand
Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive championship with a fifth-place finish at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Norris acknowledges Verstappen's flawless performance throughout the season, highlighting his consistency and adaptability in both dominant and challenging race conditions.
"He's not put a foot wrong the whole year," Norris praised. "When he's had the quickest car, he dominated races. When he's not in the quickest car, he's still been just behind us and almost winning anyway."
However, Norris suggests that the season could have been more competitive had McLaren been stronger from the start. Once McLaren improved their performance, they managed to put pressure on both Red Bull and Verstappen, revealing some vulnerabilities in their opponents.
"I think 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," Norris explained. Despite occasional pressure-induced mistakes from both Verstappen and Red Bull, their consistency throughout the season proved unbeatable.
Norris particularly commends Verstappen's ability to maximize his car's potential in every race, with his worst finish being fifth place. This consistent performance, combined with Red Bull's early-season advantage, ultimately led to Verstappen's comfortable championship victory.