As Lando Norris and Max Verstappen battle for supremacy in the 2024 Formula 1 season, McLaren boss Zak Brown has urged the British driver to show Verstappen “the limits” while maintaining the clean and fair racing that both drivers are known for.
Lando Norris vs Max Verstappen
After dominating the 2022 and 2023 seasons, where Max Verstappen claimed a record-breaking 19 wins, the 2024 campaign has seen the Red Bull driver pushed harder than ever before. Despite this, Verstappen has maintained a commanding 62-point lead over Lando Norris heading into the final triple-header. With a chance to secure his fourth World Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen needs only to outscore Norris by three points to wrap up the title.
However, Norris and his team at McLaren are not giving up easily. While the season began with a friendship between the two drivers, tensions have escalated following controversial on-track incidents, particularly in Austria, Austin, and Mexico.
The Tensions Build
Norris and Verstappen have been close friends, often traveling to races together and celebrating post-race. However, the friendship began to strain when the two collided at the Red Bull Ring. Both drivers suffered punctures after Verstappen closed the door on Norris during a battle for position, leading to mutual complaints.
Despite resolving this incident with a phone call, things took a turn for the worse at the United States Grand Prix in Austin and the Mexican Grand Prix. In Austin, Norris was penalised for passing Verstappen off the track and gaining an advantage, although the penalty was later reduced. In Mexico, Verstappen was given two 10-second penalties for forcing Norris off the track twice, including an incident where Verstappen pushed Norris towards a wall, which the McLaren driver deemed “dangerous.”
Play it Clean but Stand Your Ground
Amid these escalating tensions, Zak Brown has made it clear that while Norris should stand his ground, he must continue to race in a way that aligns with McLaren’s values. Brown acknowledged that the rivalry between Norris and Verstappen is fierce, but emphasized that Norris should not resort to aggressive tactics.
“Lando drives hard but fair. Max is an incredible racing driver who pushes the rules to the limit, but you have to show him where the limits are,” Brown said. He highlighted the need for Norris to assert himself without crossing the line, something that was notably missing in the Austin race. He added:
“The only thing [Norris] could have done differently would have been to drive into Max’s car. But that’s not our style, and not Lando’s either.”
Brown also referenced the 2021 title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen, where Hamilton famously said, “enough is enough” in response to Verstappen’s aggressive tactics. Brown stressed that this is not a situation McLaren or Norris would want to repeat.
What’s Next for Norris and Verstappen?
With the 2024 F1 season nearing its conclusion, all eyes will be on Norris as he seeks to finish the season strong despite Verstappen’s impending title win. McLaren has shown significant progress this year, and Norris has proven himself to be one of the sport’s top drivers. However, to take the next step and challenge Verstappen for the title in the future, Norris will need to continue refining his approach to racing, maintaining a balance between aggression and respect for the limits of fair play.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix will likely be a pivotal moment for both drivers, as Verstappen inches closer to his fourth championship and Norris aims to make a statement in the final stages of the 2024 season.
Key Takeaways
- Max Verstappen has a 62-point lead over Lando Norris heading into the 2024 F1 season finale.
- Zak Brown urges Norris to show Verstappen the limits but race cleanly, avoiding any unnecessary aggression.
- Tensions between Norris and Verstappen have been escalating, with key incidents in Austria, Austin, and Mexico.
- Norris has shown he can challenge Verstappen, but whether he can break through in future seasons remains to be seen.
As the season draws to a close, fans will be eager to see how this rivalry develops, and whether Norris can take the fight to Verstappen in the future.
