Lando Norris believes he has what it takes to challenge for a world title in the future after his battle with Max Verstappen during the 2024 season. (More Motorsport News)
Lando Norris arrives at the Las Vegas Grand Prix 62 points behind Verstappen, knowing a win is a must if he is to keep his faint world championship hopes alive
Lando Norris believes he has what it takes to challenge for a world title in the future after his battle with Max Verstappen during the 2024 season. (More Motorsport News)
Norris arrives at the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend 62 points behind Verstappen, knowing a win is a must if he is to keep his faint world championship hopes alive.
Verstappen and Red Bull started the campaign as they left off last year, only for Norris and McLaren to emerge as genuine contenders after a series of car developments.
On a dramatic weekend in Brazil, Norris reduced the Dutchman's advantage to 44 points by winning in the Sprint race, but that victory proved to be in vain.
Despite starting 17th on the grid, Verstappen regained his sizeable margin with a stunning wet weather performance, and can clinch a fourth world title in Sin City this weekend.
When asked what he had learned from this season, Norris said: 바카라śThat I have what it takes. It바카라™s the first time in the last six years of F1 that we바카라™ve had a chance to fight at the front.
"This is our, and my, first opportunity to do so, and my first opportunity to see where I stand.
바카라śI definitely was not at the level I needed to be at the beginning of the year, even [after beating Verstappen to a maiden win] in Miami.
"Since the summer break I feel like I바카라™ve done a very good job and performed very, very well 바카라“ by far some of my best performances that I바카라™ve done.
바카라śI바카라™ve been very happy with how the last few months have gone, honestly. I wouldn바카라™t change many things that have happened.
"I still need to make tweaks and I still need to improve on things, that바카라™s clear. I바카라™m not completely satisfied with how I바카라™ve done and I definitely know I need to make improvements.
바카라śBut, for the first time, I바카라™m confident to say I have what I think I need to fight for a championship. It doesn바카라™t mean I바카라™m complete, it doesn바카라™t mean I바카라™m perfect.
"When you바카라™re competing against drivers who are close to that, like Max, you have to be close to perfect if you want to challenge him.바카라ť
Despite Norris' disappointment, this weekend marks an opportunity for McLaren to edge closer to a first constructors' championship since 1998.Â
The British-based team are currently 36 points ahead of Ferrari at the top of the standings with two races and a sprint remaining this season.Â
McLaren have 19 podiums in 2024, their best record in a campaign since 2007 (24). In only four years have they achieved more (20 in 1998, 22 in 2000, 24 in 2007 and 25 in 1988), though Norris insisted the battle was far from over.
바카라śFerrari have been strong for a long time,바카라ť said Norris. 바카라śThey have two very good drivers, they바카라™re a very good team, they바카라™ve clearly improved their car a good amount and found a better direction to head down.
바카라śThey probably will be with us. Some races are a bit better, some races a little bit behind, some races the same as a competition. Maybe [the momentum is] a little bit with them, but we바카라™re close. Red Bull are close at the same time.
바카라śIt바카라™s more about who can do a better performance on a weekend. We do know that Vegas is probably a track that will suit the Ferraris a bit more.
"It suited them well last year, but we know Qatar will be more favourable to us.바카라ť