F1 News

Jordan criticises Norris for fight against Verstappen

Jordan doesn't think Norris is ready: 'Have to prepare to fight a bear'

2 July at 20:00
10
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

Eddie Jordan believes that Lando Norris isn't yet prepared to fight Max Verstappen, and the former team boss suggests the Brit's actions at the Austrian Grand Prix proved that. He argues that the incident between the two front runners could've been avoided entirely.

Verstappen has been at the top for many years now. Starting with his emphatic battle with Lewis Hamilton for the 2021 World Championship, Verstappen has been very successful. He now has three world championships to his name and is only 30 wins shy of Michael Schumacher's tally of Grands Prix victories. Meanwhile, Norris has only really had the last two months at the front of the F1 grid.

Norris needs to prepare against Verstappen

That experience is combined with a strong mentality. Jordan wanted to highlight that by linking Verstappen to a bear. "Verstappen is a fighter, he is a bear. And before you enter the ring with a bear, you have to prepare for that. The incident should never have happened in my opinion," the Irishman said on his podcast Formula For Success.

"When you are defending, and you are leading the race, it is like on the motorway. Then the person behind you has to find a way around it. Verstappen rightfully acquired that leading position and then it is up to the person behind him to make his way to the front. Lando first went one way, then the other. He was not well prepared for a fight with Verstappen," Jordan added.