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: 바카라That I have what it takes. It바카라s the first time in the last six years of F1 that we바카라ve 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.
바카라I 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 I바카라ve done a very good job and performed very, very well 바카라 by far some of my best performances that I바카라ve done.
바카라I바카라ve been very happy with how the last few months have gone, honestly. I wouldn바카라t change many things that have happened.
"I still need to make tweaks and I still need to improve on things, that바카라s clear. I바카라m not completely satisfied with how I바카라ve done and I definitely know I need to make improvements.
바카라But, for the first time, I바카라m confident to say I have what I think I need to fight for a championship. It doesn바카라t mean I바카라m complete, it doesn바카라t mean I바카라m perfect.
"When you바카라re competing against drivers who are close to that, like Max, you have to be close to perfect if you want to challenge him.바카라
Despite Norris' disappointment, this weekend marks an opportunity for McLaren to edge closer to a first constructors' championship since 1998.
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.
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.
바카라Ferrari have been strong for a long time,바카라 said Norris. 바카라They have two very good drivers, they바카라re a very good team, they바카라ve clearly improved their car a good amount and found a better direction to head down.
바카라They 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 we바카라re close. Red Bull are close at the same time.
바카라It바카라s 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.바카라
