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The 2024 Formula 1 season has been nothing short of thrilling, with fierce battles for supremacy on the track. One such rivalry has emerged between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Verstappen, who recently clinched his fourth consecutive World Championship in Las Vegas, made a bold statement that has set tongues wagging. He claimed that he could have won the 2024 F1 title much earlier if he had been driving a McLaren. Norris, no stranger to battling Verstappen at the front, wasted no time in responding to this assertion, humorously dismissing his rival’s comments.
Verstappen’s Confident Claim:
After securing the 2024 championship, Verstappen reflected on his dominant season and shared some thoughts with McLaren’s CEO, Zak Brown. During this conversation, Verstappen, known for his unwavering confidence, boldly stated:
"Things like that only motivate me. If people are critical and think that I can only win in the best car, then I prove the opposite. If I don’t get credit for this now, then I don’t know what else I can do. Would I have become champion in the McLaren? Yes! And much earlier too."
This statement seems to have been a direct response to comments earlier in the year from Brown, who had suggested that Verstappen’s success was largely attributed to the strength of the Red Bull car. Verstappen, never one to shy away from a challenge, used this moment to show that his talent could triumph in any situation, even if he wasn’t driving the fastest car.
Norris Responds with Humor:
Lando Norris, who finished second behind Verstappen in the 2024 standings, didn’t take too kindly to this claim. Known for his quick wit, Norris couldn’t resist throwing a jibe in Verstappen’s direction ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix:
"He should start in comedy or something! He can say whatever he wants, Of course, I completely disagree, as I would. He's good. But he's not true," said Norris
Norris’ comment shows that while he respects Verstappen’s talent, he doesn’t believe that Verstappen’s claim holds water. The McLaren car, while much improved this season, simply isn’t on the same level as the Red Bull, which has dominated F1 for the past several seasons.
Norris' Confidence in McLaren's Progress:
Despite his humorous rebuttal, Norris remains confident in McLaren's progress, highlighting the team’s remarkable improvement in 2024. The British driver has regularly challenged the front-runners and secured a number of podium finishes. However, he’s also realistic about the challenges McLaren still faces when going up against the powerhouse that is Red Bull.
"I know what Max is capable of doing. It depends. If there was no Red Bull, yeah, even I could have won if there was no Red Bull and Max was not in a Red Bull, I would have won the championship!" Norris joked, showing that he’s not afraid to make bold statements of his own.
The Friendly Rivalry:
Despite the occasional jabs and their fierce competition on track, the relationship between Norris and Verstappen remains friendly. Norris shared that, despite the intense rivalry, they are still good friends and have maintained mutual respect throughout the season.
"There were some tough moments, but we are still good friends. We had a nice word with each other after the race in Vegas," Norris said.
Their friendship off the track shows that even in the high-pressure environment of Formula 1, respect for one another remains intact.
The action now shifts to Qatar.
