Lando Norris has answered whether he is in the championship fight this season.
Lando Norris addressed his position in the championship race this season, acknowledging that despite moving up to second place after the Spanish Grand Prix, his deficit to Max Verstappen has grown to 69 points. He emphasized the critical nature of avoiding errors, citing recent races where small mistakes allowed Verstappen to extend his lead.
“I do believe I’m in the championship fight this year,” Norris remarked to the media. “However, we missed opportunities to gain points on Max. In Canada and Spain, if we had executed better, we could have potentially beaten him. It’s crucial that we start finishing ahead of him consistently.”
Reflecting on specific errors, Norris pointed out a late pit stop in Canada and a poor start in Spain as pivotal moments that cost him potential victories. Despite these setbacks, he remains confident in McLaren’s ability to compete at the highest level.
“Had I made better decisions in those races, we might have secured wins,” Norris admitted. “But dwelling on ‘what ifs’ won’t help. We have the capability; now it’s about delivering consistently.”
Norris stressed the importance of narrowing the gap to Verstappen and preventing him from further extending his advantage in the championship standings. He expressed determination to rectify mistakes and capitalize on upcoming opportunities to challenge for race victories.