Lando Norris says nothing Max Verstappen does is a shock anymore, after being crushed by the Purple Bull driver within the Japanese Grand Prix.
Verstappen pulled out a surprising qualifying lap on Saturday to take a shock pole place forward of the 2 McLaren drivers, edging out Norris by simply 0.012s. That proved essential, with observe place central to Verstappen’s victory on Sunday, and Norris says he has all the time recognized and acknowledged what his championship rival is able to.
“I really feel like I get a whole lot of questions like, ‘Are you stunned by Max?’ when he does a day like [qualifying] or a race like [Sunday],” Norris stated. “And I assume folks all the time count on me to say sure, however I don’t suppose there’s a cause to be. I don’t suppose I ever have.
“I’ve all the time had a whole lot of respect for Max. However there are these moments that whenever you’re within the automobile and whenever you’re driving, you already know what is sweet and what’s not. And I feel I don’t want anybody to inform me what Max is able to doing or whether or not I ought to suppose this or that. In fact, I’ve all the time received my very own opinions, however I’m all the time going to have the respect.
“I understand how good he’s been since we shook fingers again in 2015 or one thing, 2014, and I used to be half the peak I’m now! So I don’t want folks to inform me these items. And folks appear shocked after I say I’m not stunned and stuff like that, however I understand how good he’s. I do know what he’s able to doing.
“So I’d say nothing is a shock anymore. However I nonetheless imagine that we’re going to have some good races and we will go toe-to-toe and that some days he’ll come out on prime and others I’ll.”
Regardless of the trio taking a victory apiece thus far this yr, Norris believes it isn’t simply Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri who might be preventing for wins this season, however for now he sees them because the most certainly rivals for the drivers’ title given their consistency.
“I nonetheless suppose at occasions we’re going to see some extra competitors from the fellows behind. Charles was not that a lot slower [in Suzuka]. There was a much bigger hole, however I feel his second stint on the hards was simply as fast as mine. I didn’t suppose we dropped him in any respect. So different automobiles are fast.
“I feel we pushed loads at first, and it was a race the place you simply flat out from the off. It was a fast race. However I feel we’re the three who’re essentially the most constant on the minute and placing within the occasions in quali and placing the great races in.
“However George has been fast this weekend. I don’t know, perhaps once more, they struggled a bit extra in Q3 for no matter cause after which subsequently within the race. However I’m positive like in the event you put a George beginning on pole, I feel he in all probability nonetheless would have gained the race.
“So I feel anytime somebody does that little bit of a greater job on Saturday for qualifying, they’ll have these alternatives come their method. However on the minute, I feel McLaren, Purple Bull, and doubtless between us three, we’re doing a greater job than the remainder.”
