Underperforming Norris: 'At McLaren, Verstappen would surely win six times'

F1 News

Christijan Albers on Lando Norris' performance versus Max Verstappen
14 September at 07:44
2
  • Olly Darcy
  • Editor

Lando Norris has currently won two races: in Miami and at Zandvoort. However, with the 24-year-old in contention for the world championship, along with having the fastest ar on the grid, arguably, there are thoughts that the Brit should have taken a couple more Grand Prix victories. Christijan Albers believes so, and is therefore critical of the McLaren driver in his column for De Telegraaf.

There was much criticism of McLaren after the Italian Grand Prix. British media, among others, found it incomprehensible that the team did not intervene after Oscar Piastri overtook his teammate while Norris was competing for the championship. The two were allowed to fight each other, but according to 'papaya rules'.

Albers finds 'papaya rules' nonsense

Albers also finds it an incomprehensible situation at the British team: "The big boss Zak Brown only talks about the 'papaya rules'. What nonsense all around, what is that about? Then you're just marketing anyway. Then it all has to sound sexy again, but it's just about team orders and that you have to let each other live as teammates."

The former Formula One driver continued: "In Monza a fortnight ago, they messed it up all by themselves. You have to agree as a team: you let each other live and we leave the order as it is after the first corner. Now Oscar Piastri overtook Lando Norris later with dire consequences. Although it was a genius manoeuvre by Piastri, it was risky. That was also reflected in Norris' upset moment."

'Verstappen would certainly have won six times in that McLaren'

Meanwhile, Andrea Stella did indicate that if necessary, team orders could come. About this, Albers says: "But Norris has to enforce it himself. He doesn't perform nearly as consistently as a Verstappen. At McLaren they don't optimise, that's the big problem. Norris has only won two races, in Miami and at Zandvoort. Had Verstappen been in that car, he would have won at least six."

This article was written in collaboration with Cas van de Kleut

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