Lando Norris issues cheeky offer to Max Verstappen and makes Lewis Hamilton comparison | F1 | Sport
Lando Norris has cheekily asked Max Verstappen to try his luck in a McLaren and see if he can replicate the success he is enjoying with Red Bull. The British youngster also compared the reigning world champion’s period of dominance to previous spells in Lewis Hamilton’s career, with the Mercedes veteran trailing off the pace in 2022.
Norris and Verstappen are friends off the track with the pair pictured together at a nightclub earlier this year. Tension could creep in if the former finds the pace to challenge the latter for race victories, but McLaren have struggled to match the front-runners this season and are in a fight to finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.
In fact, Norris is still looking for his first Grand Prix victory despite notching six podiums in 76 races. Many have tipped him to achieve big things if he’s given the right tools to be competitive, but for now the 22-year-old watches from afar with Verstappen steaming towards a second successive drivers’ title.
When asked what he made of Verstappen’s season so far, he told Sky Sports: “Quite easy. He’s done a pretty good job. He should maybe have a go in our car and see what he’s like. He’s done amazing. Very impressive.
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“It’s similar to Lewis [Hamilton] in previous years. When you’ve got a car that can deliver and win races, he’s the one to take those opportunities. When he’s beating his team-mate every time, it’s impressive to see day in, day out. Even in FP1, FP2, FP3, he’s never under the limit, he’s always pushing the limits.
“Even in FP1 on his first lap of the whole day, his lap times are normally quicker than what we ever do in qualifying. Look, he’s one of the most talented drivers ever. No doubt he’s going to win a second Lando Norris issues cheeky offer to Max Verstappen and makes Lewis Hamilton comparison | F1 | Sport this year and most likely go on to win a few more in the future.”
A variety of outcomes would see Verstappen win the title next time out in Singapore, five Grands Prix before the end of the 2022 season. Victory and a fastest lap, as he’s achieved time and again over the past few months, would put him mathematically out of reach if Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishes eighth or lower and his Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, finishes fourth or lower.
The Dutchman is on a sensational streak of five consecutive Grand Prix wins with the Austrian GP in July the last time he failed to take top spot on the podium. His haul of 13 wins this campaign is almost four times as many as Leclerc, his nearest challenger.
Norris’ McLaren doesn’t have the pace to mount a challenge to Verstappen’s dominance but the Brit is still punching well above his weight, as shown by the distance in the points standings between himself and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Former F2 champion Oscar Piastri has been confirmed as his replacement and, alongside Norris, McLaren will boast one of the most exciting young driver line-ups in F1.
