Norris Urged to Refine Approach Amid Verstappen Rivalry

Martin Brundle critiques Norris’s title potential, urging focus and growth as Verstappen’s dominance highlights key areas for improvement.

Brundle, former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst, hasn’t held back in stating that Lando Norris isn’t yet ready to contend for a championship title.

Assessing the young McLaren driver’s recent performances, Brundle highlighted certain weaknesses and expressed hope that the 24-year-old Briton might reconsider his stance on the “masterclass” delivered by Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Following the race, Norris raised eyebrows by downplaying Verstappen’s historic performance, suggesting his victory owed more to luck than skill. Brundle found these remarks unjust. “I believe he’ll come around,” he commented. “Max was simply in a class of his own.”

“In these conditions, his talent shines through,” said Brundle, a former teammate of Michael Schumacher, regarding Verstappen’s performance. Brundle observed that McLaren wasn’t the fastest car in the wet, though they had shown promise in wet qualifying. Despite a solid start, Norris fell behind due to some mistakes and an ill-timed pit stop.

Brundle pointed out that Verstappen had hardly been lucky over the weekend but skillfully adapted to circumstances. “Max faced challenges with the red flag in qualifying, yet he knew precisely what to do during the race. He took the lead and finished with a 19-second gap. It was a classic race and a great showcase for Formula 1.”

Brundle notes that Norris has started from pole ten times but only held the lead through the opening lap on one occasion. “He needs to improve across the board to reach the required level,” Brundle asserts. Yet he also acknowledges Norris’s strengths, citing his impressive wins in Singapore and Zandvoort. “He still has much to learn about title contention, which demands a different approach,” he explains, expressing optimism for the 2024 season.

Brundle Doubts Norris's Readiness for F1 Title Challenge

However, Brundle questions whether Norris can rise to Verstappen’s level. “He seems to lack that relentless aggression that defines Max,” he observes. “Nonetheless, he’ll learn a lot from this season. Max won seven of the first ten Grands Prix, putting him well out of reach.”

In this context, Craig Slater questions Brundle on McLaren’s support for Norris, who had to yield a victory to teammate Oscar Piastri in Hungary. Brundle doubts this impacted Norris, quoting the driver: “I don’t want to win a title because my teammate handed me points.” In Brazil, however, Piastri had to let Norris pass, a difficult call for the young Australian.

“McLaren recognises that Piastri is an exceptional talent, and it would be unfair to relegate him to a secondary role,” Brundle adds. “It’s a tough position, and McLaren has learned this season, now that they’re competing at the top again, that maintaining internal balance is crucial to supporting Norris.”

In conclusion, Brundle advises Norris to focus solely on his performance and his car in the remaining races of the season. “If he concentrates too much on a single rival, he risks wasting energy,” Brundle warns. “Lando should already be gearing up for his 2025 campaign, where competition will be fierce under the new regulations. Each race is a chance to progress, and he needs to drive at full capacity without distraction.”

Looking ahead, Brundle sees great potential in Norris to compete at the highest level but stresses the importance of refining his approach to meet the demands of a championship battle.