Lando Norris still believes he can take title fight to Max Verstappen

Lando Norris is refusing to give up hope of challenging Max Verstappen for the world championship.

The 24-year-old has emerged as Verstappen’s closest rival but the Dutchman’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix extended his title lead to 69 points.

Norris has taken one win and four second places in his last six appearances. But there is a feeling the McLaren driver could have been heading to this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix with two consecutive victories under his belt.

A poor strategy call scuppered Norris’ hopes of winning in Canada earlier this month before the Briton said his start in Sunday’s race in Spain – where he dropped from first to third – denied him another triumph. Verstappen won both races.

However, with 14 races remaining, Norris says he has the machinery underneath him to provide Verstappen with a real fight.

“I need to tidy up a few bits and we will be on top,” said Norris. “I should have done better today and there was a chance to beat Max in Canada. So that’s two races that I have finished second and he has won.

“We should have got points back on Max. He is still extending his lead and that is not something we can afford to let him do, to run away with at this point in the season.

10 down, 14 to go...

A reminder of how things stand so far in 2024