Lando Norris: Max Verstappen's 'boring' dominance of F1 turning fans off sport
Lando Norris fears Max Verstappen's "boring" dominance of Formula One is forcing fans away. Verstappen became the first driver this century to start the season with five consecutive pole positions after a crushing performance in qualifying for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix. The Dutchman, 26, saw off Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez by 0.322 seconds at the Shanghai International Circuit to take top spot, after he earlier raced from fourth to first in the 19-lap sprint race. Remarkably, since Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 world championship in Abu Dhabi, the Red Bull driver has won 37 of the 48 races staged, and he is firmly on course to wrap up his fourth title in as many seasons. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already said that Verstappen will not be caught - despite there being 20 races of this record-breaking 24-race season left. And speaking ahead of the fifth round of the campaign in China, Norris, considered to be Verstappen's best friend on the grid, said: "It is frustrating for people watching but it has always been like this. "Now, we are seeing more dominance than ever, so it is never going to be the best to watch and the only exciting races have been the ones that Max is not in." Asked if he was concerned Verstappen's stranglehold on the sport could be a turn-off for fans, Norris replied: "Of course it is going to be. Of course it is going be.
