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What's it like flying with Verstappen and Norris? Hulkenberg gives insight
Formula One drivers often travel together to Grand Prix weekends on private jets, as most of them already live in Monaco. That was also the case on Wednesday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when Lando Norris and Nico Hülkenberg joined Max Verstappen on the Dutchman's plane to the capital city of Baku. The German talked about the mood when travelling with the two championship rivals.
While they are good friends off the track, Verstappen and Norris are the two main contenders for the 2024 drivers' title. Currently, 62 points separate the two, with Verstappen having the upper hand at the moment. In the paddock, Hulkenberg talked about flying with the two. "[We talk about] that they are fighting for the championship? We talk. We don't sit there for four hours in silence," the German told GPblog and others in Baku.
"You talk about everything. It's chill, it's private. You see they have a good relationship, they get on. It all makes sense. We all come from the same spot, it's convenient and we can combine forces when it comes to travel and these kind of things," he added.
However, according to the Haas driver, that was not the only plane F1 drivers boarded together ahead of this weekend. "Just the three of us [on this plane]. I think Air Fernando had a few more, but I didn't know."
Hulkenberg doesn't think it's a title battle yet
The soon-to-become Audi driver also shared high thoughts about the battle between Verstappen and Norris. "I rewatch the races usually, but more from my perspective and the people that we are fighting, around us. I would say McLaren has managed to turn things around. They're the fastest car on the grid right now, the ones to beat. Max is in quite a comfortable lead still points wise. So it's not really a title fight yet."
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