Max Verstappen left in little doubt by Lando Norris claim in aftermath of Dutch GP
Max Verstappen is still comfortably ahead of Lando Norris in the F1 standings, but critics feel the British McLaren star is a threat with nine races left.
Max Verstappen can be left with little doubt that he has a real title fight on his hands after Lando Norris was described as racing like the championship leader at the Dutch Grand Prix. Three-time Formula One champion Verstappen finished second behind Norris at his home grand prix, closing the gap between the pair with nine races left this season.
Norris stormed to pole position in qualifying in impressive fashion. But it was his dominant display in Sunday’s race that was the real eye opener, claiming the second win of his career and the season in Zandvoort.
The 24-year-old Brit fluffed the start not for the first time this year to give Verstappen the lead. Yet he oozed class for the remaining laps on board a McLaren which has gone from strength to strength. Norris overtook his Red Bull rival with ease before the first pit stops before clinching the win and setting the fastest lap.
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That led F1 journalist Peter Windsor to sing Norris’ praises in the aftermath, saying: “Lando looked relaxed on the radio, looking wonderful in the car. Rhythmic, soft touch, as we’ve talked about before.”
Windsor went one step further and said it was Norris, not Verstappen, who was driving like a would-be champion. He added: “Around Zandvoort he looked absolutely like a guy that should be out there leading the world championship. Just a superb performance from him. This was a real indication that McLaren are right up there ahead now of Red Bull.”
Norris trails Verstappen by 70 points in the drivers’ standings, making him the biggest threat the flying Dutchman has faced by anyone not driving a Red Bull car in almost three years. And Verstappen has reason to be alarmed outside of Windsor’s observation, with even Red Bull chief Helmut Marko describing the RB20’s drop in performance as alarming.
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"We could not keep up with the pace at all," Marko told Sky Germany. "At the beginning the pace was equivalent, but then the tires started to wear and you could see how easily Lando overtook us. We are clearly being beaten, so that is alarming. I do think it was partly down to the track, though.”
Red Bull’s worrying development trend has seen Verstappen fail to win in five races. The famous Italian Grand Prix in Monza is up next on Sunday, with Verstappen under no illusions about the situation he now finds himself in after a stellar start to 2024.
"This weekend was just a bad weekend in general," Verstappen said. "So we need to understand that. But the last few races already, they haven't really been fantastic.
“So that, I think in a sense, was already a bit alarming. But we know that we don't need to panic. We are just trying to improve the situation. And that's what we are working on.”
Norris, however, is not about to get carried away. That's despite commentator Martin Brundle claiming he has moved up “the Formula 1 ladder a step or two in terms of greatness rankings” following his Zandvoort display.
Norris said: "I mean, I've been fighting for the championship since the first race of the year. There's no sudden decision of, now I need to do better. I've been working hard the whole year and I'm still 70 points behind Max. So it's pretty stupid to think of anything at the minute.
"I just take one race at a time and just keep doing what I'm doing now because there's no point to think ahead and think of the rest. I don't care about it at the minute. So it's not a question that I need to get asked every single weekend."
