Why Lando Norris Isn’t able to compete with Max Verstappen at Red Bull
Because he did not want to face Max Verstappen in competition, Norris turned down the opportunity to join the Milton Keynes-based team. Regarding the same, Norris informed Sky Sports,
“I don’t believe the question is whether you’re afraid or not. Though I doubt I’d ever be afraid to challenge someone, I believe it’s inappropriate for any driver to enter a team or be in a position where they may confront someone right away.
It is not the best course of action to go against the world’s greatest driver; it takes time to adjust and settle in. It’s not a wise course of action.
The 24-year-old did, however, previously state that he would want to be Verstappen’s teammate. He stated in 2023 that he would be more than willing to collaborate with the Dutchman because he was never able to compete against him while on the same squad.
Remarkably, last year Norris extended an invitation to the Dutchman to visit McLaren. As things stand, Norris’s contract with the Woking-based company has been renewed. Verstappen, meanwhile, is nonetheless obligated to Red Bull through the conclusion of the 2028 Formula One season. As a result, it won’t be feasible for the two to play on the same squad for very long.
Given how effectively McLaren rebounded from their injury last year, Norris most certainly decided to extend his contract. The 24-year-old will now be hoping that the Woking team can keep improving and that they will soon be challenging for the title or perhaps winning races.
In what way does Lando Norris’s meteoric ascent at McLaren justify his stay?
In 2023, McLaren Racing saw tremendous growth. After earning zero points after the first two races of the season, the Papayas got off to the worst conceivable start. They then worked on a fresh idea and achieved the intended outcomes.
Instead of sticking to their original plan, the Woking engineers put aside their pride and started again. This was one of the factors that made Mercedes lose and McLaren win.
Expert on Formula One Vanessa Guerra stated, “When you see what McLaren built last year, and they continued to improve, they were like this isn’t working, let us throw it all out.” on The VF1 Show with VF & Vincenzo. That calls on a lot of individuals to set aside their egos.
Rob Marshall from Red Bull and David Sanchez from Ferrari, among others, were recruited in by McLaren, and they greatly assisted the team’s progress. Mercedes, on the other hand, lost both James Vowles and Mike Elliot to Williams.
Mercedes ultimately came in just ahead of Ferrari to take second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Conversely, McLaren secured P4 in the standings by coming from the rear of the grid. Mercedes’s number of sponsors decreased as a consequence of this.
As of the 2024 Formula One season, the Silver Arrows have half as many sponsors as McLaren, who has over forty. Lando Norris was eager to stay at McLaren, and this may have been one of the key reasons.