Ex-F1 driver reveals why he believes Lando Norris’ F1 championship hopes are “over” at McLaren. Max Verstappen dealt Lando Norris a “slap in the face” at Sao Paulo, according to former F1 driver.

Lando Norris heads into the Las Vegas Grand Prix with a 62-point gap to Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. While the British driver had a good opportunity to close the points gap in Brazil, Max Verstappen’s masterful performance saw him surge from P17 on the grid to win the race.

Starting from pole position, Lando Norris faced a setback when he pitted just before a red flag, dropping him out of podium contention. His race worsened when he went off track during a restart, leaving him in seventh. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, was asked to move aside due to a 10-second penalty, marking the second instance of McLaren enforcing team orders between the two drivers.

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya commented on W Radio Colombia, saying McLaren would likely shift their focus at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. With McLaren leading Ferrari by 36 points in the Constructors’ Championship, the ex-Williams driver believes the team will prioritize securing this position over supporting Lando Norris’s personal title bid. Ferrari, with their strong showing at high-speed circuits like Azerbaijan, could pose a serious threat in Las Vegas, potentially making Norris’s Drivers’ Championship pursuit a lower priority for McLaren.

“Lando’s title is already dead for that race (Vegas). In the next race it will be all about how do we make sure that Ferrari doesn’t get us and get close in the Constructors’ Championship,” said Montoya.

Max Verstappen dealt Lando Norris a “slap in the face” at Sao Paulo

Despite Max Verstappen’s driving being under scrutiny in the days leading up to the Brazilian race, the Dutch driver set multiple fastest laps toward the end, allowing him to finish 19 seconds ahead of Esteban Ocon.

His pace ensured that no one could catch him in the rain, with Lando Norris unable to advance beyond P6 after being held up by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. Christian Danner remarked that Max Verstappen’s pace was like a “slap in the face” for Norris, as it also served to prove a point to those doubting Verstappen’s abilities.

This season, Red Bull has concentrated primarily on defending the Drivers’ Championship for the Ducthman, while the lackluster performances of his Mexican teammate have seen the team drop to P3 in the standings ahead of the final three races of the 2024 Formula One campaign, which will take place in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.