In the United States GP in Austin, Lando Norris missed an important opportunity to close the gap in the standings with Max Verstappen, his direct rival for the world title. Despite starting from pole position, the McLaren driver was unable to make the most of his performance and lost five points in the title fight, with the gap widening from 52 to 57. What could have been a turning point in the championship ended in a double setback, to the advantage of the Dutch driver.
The first key moment happened in the very first lap when the Brit lost the battle with Max. Norris wasn’t savvy enough in managing the initial duel, allowing the Red Bull driver to overtake him in Turn 1. A more aggressive or calculated approach at that stage might have allowed him to maintain his position and set the race at a more favorable pace. Instead, Lando Norris immediately found himself on the defensive.
The second missed opportunity came in the final moments of the race when Lando had a chance to attack his championship rival. In this instance as well, the Brit failed to capitalize, showing little effectiveness both in attack and defense. The experienced Dutchman, with a touch of cunning, was able to put Norris in a disadvantaged position, ultimately causing him to come off as being in the wrong.
These two key setbacks in the crucial stages of the race heavily impacted the standings and McLaren driver’s morale, with the gap to Max Verstappen now at 57 points. If Norris wants to keep his title hopes alive, he will need to learn to better manage his duels with the reigning champion, especially in the most decisive moments, showing a level of composure that he has almost always lacked.
F1, Norris: Admitting his own faults out of a sense of inferiority
The duel between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen sparked considerable discussion in the hours after the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Some argued that the three-time world champion acted unfairly, blocking any of Norris’s attempts at defense or attack, depending on the “critical” situations that occurred during the race, namely the start and the overtaking in the final laps.
Opinions were clearly divided: in the Red Bull camp, they naturally defend Max, as does the FIA, which in fact issued no penalty to the Dutchman. Instead, Norris was penalized for passing him well beyond the track limits, while Verstappen received no warning for pushing Norris beyond those limits.
After the adrenaline cooled, the McLaren driver admitted some responsibility, acknowledging that Max Verstappen was indeed tough, but that’s nothing new. We know his style of defending and attacking, but that doesn’t justify Lando Norris, who was too soft, especially at the start, when he didn’t close off his rival at the only point where he could have truly blocked him.
“If I’d defended better in Turn 1 and hadn’t driven like a muppet, I could have led after that corner, and we wouldn’t even be talking about this,” Lando said. “The problem is he came in so fast he ended up off the track. You can’t just dive inside someone, go onto the runoff, and then keep the position like it’s all normal. But for some reason, if you do it on the first lap at the first corner, it seems like it’s okay.” – he admitted.
Lando Norris’s comments show a bit of frustration, and he might be right in some ways: the FIA has penalized unexpected actions in recent years, and these track limits are indeed becoming irritating. Beyond that, however, knowing how Max approaches certain duels, both Lando Norris and McLaren should have prepared better for the start and for managing the race, which might have avoided the final mess. These small details make all the difference in the world and further distance the Brit from a chance to win the world championship.
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