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lando norris on challenging max verstappen in world title race

Norris puts an abrupt end to fan expectations: 'Too far behind'

16 May at 14:30
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  • Corwin Kunst

It took Lando Norris more than five years, but his first victory in Formula 1 became reality in Miami. The McLaren driver, with the help of timely safety car, won the Miami Grand Prix and can therefore now call himself a race winner at the highest level. The next goal is the world title, but according to Norris, that is unrealistic for now. Verstappen and Red Bull Racing still have an edge.

Norris was asked in the press conference whether he thinks - since he was fastest in the Miami race with his MCL38 - he can now start challenging every weekend.

"At the minute, I think we're still too far behind. It was just one weekend, and to go to Miami, we definitely weren't expecting to be as good as we were, and that was a nice surprise. China was a similar thing too, so maybe that's something we can continue where we can be better than we expect at certain races," Norris said.

Competing for the World Championship

Challenging his good friend Verstappen in the world championship this year is still a bridge too far, said the 24-year-old Briton. "We're not miles away. We're talking one or two-tenths a lap at this point between being ahead in qualifying and being able to stay ahead in the race versus being behind and just not having what it takes. I don't think at the minute we have the package from the beginning of every weekend to the end of every weekend. I think we have more work to do. I don't think we're on par with Ferrari and with what Red Bull have, but we're getting closer, so I think we need a couple more of the steps that we had in Miami," he added.

"Then I think we can then start to talk a little bit more about that [title fight] kind of thing. For now, I don't think we have the package from the beginning of the season to the end, but we're catching up," concluded Norris, who is 53 points behind Verstappen.