Lando Norris was irritable after what appeared to be the loss of the Formula One world championship to the unstoppable Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver’s remarks in Sao Paulo on Sunday night were defensive. He will likely regret, and possibly retract, his statement that it was not talent but rather ‘luck’ that enabled his Dutch rival to secure victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix. No, it was far from mere luck, but rather one of the most remarkable wet-weather performances ever witnessed.
Verstappen, who started in 17th place, devoured three cars at Turn 3 on the outside during the early laps, reminiscent of Ayrton Senna at Donington in 1993. He then showcased his composure and skill to maintain his Red Bull’s speed on the track while many of the other top drivers struggled and slipped off several times.
You can only sympathize with Norris for contending with a talent that is so extraordinary it seems unstoppable. To liken it to boxing, Norris was like a modern-day Frank Bruno, a capable contender undoubtedly, but one who had no chance in Las Vegas against ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson that fateful night in 1997.
Now, as he faces these troubling times, Norris must wonder if he will ever be able to claim motor racing’s highest honor. Opportunities for such a feat may come to the very best only once in a lifetime. Another chance may arise, or it may not. Let’s remember, however, that since Lewis Hamilton won the title for McLaren in 2008, no driver from the team has come close to competing for the championship again.
The McLaren is expected to be competitive next year, and Norris might get another opportunity to prove himself. If given the chance, he must approach it with significantly more confidence than he showed during this season’s crucial moments. At Mail Sport, we recognized his potential for success earlier than he did and even before his McLaren management did. Therefore, we provided ample support, encouraging him to seize the opportunity.
We criticized the use of team orders, which prevented him from winning in Hungary, where his teammate Oscar Piastri ended up taking the victory (which many believed he earned). Additionally, we suspected that Piastri may have been told to refrain from overtaking Norris in Monza, where Norris claimed the pole but lost positions at the start. This resulted in lost points.
The impact of the ‘scoreboard pressure,’ a term from cricket, could have changed the championship’s dynamics, sowing uncertainty for Verstappen, though this remains a debatable issue. Nevertheless, it could have been worth investigating and leveraging.
Red Bull was taken aback by the careless manner in which McLaren managed the drivers’ championship. In McLaren’s defense, their primary goal was to win the constructors’ title, a feat they haven’t accomplished this century.
However, both the constructors’ and drivers’ titles were within their reach and not mutually exclusive. Had Verstappen been driving the McLaren instead of the Red Bull, he undoubtedly would have won. There’s no question about that. Since May in Miami, the McLaren has been faster, while Verstappen has been desperately holding onto his championship lead. It seems McLaren may have doubted Norris’s ability to achieve success on his own, which, if that’s the case, doesn’t bode well for his future in racing.
If I were Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, I would extend Norris’s contract for another year, but with clear directives. First, he should refrain from sounding like a thankful competitor who accepts, as he astonishingly stated, that Verstappen is the best driver in the world. While he is indeed exceptional, a competitor must dismiss that notion as irrelevant.
