Norris challenges Verstappen's McLaren title claims with humor
- Max Verstappen claimed he could have won the championship sooner in a McLaren.
- Lando Norris responded humorously, disagreeing with Verstappen's assertion.
- Norris highlighted the differences in pressure faced by both drivers during the season.
In Lusail, Qatar, Lando Norris publicly responded to Max Verstappen's assertion that he would have clinched the 2024 Formula One championship sooner had he driven for McLaren. Verstappen's comments came after he secured his fourth championship title during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He believed that Red Bull's car was not the fastest for a significant portion of the season, which allowed Norris and McLaren to close the gap in the championship standings. Despite Norris's consistent performance and the team's improvement throughout the season, Verstappen's impressive comeback and win at the Sao Paulo GP were pivotal in his title achievement. Norris found Verstappen's statement amusing, suggesting that he should pursue comedy instead. He acknowledged Verstappen's driving skills but firmly disagreed with the notion that driving a McLaren would have led to an earlier title victory for the Dutch driver. Norris also pointed out the contrast in their experiences as drivers, highlighting how Verstappen faced less pressure without a competitive teammate, while he himself thrived under pressure from his own team's competitiveness.