Norris takes aim at rivals' "nonsense" McLaren claims: 'They like to talk crap'

10:00, 03 Apr

byEwan Gale

Lando Norris has criticised rivals for "talking nonsense" after suggestions McLaren could be unbeatable in Formula 1 this season.

Mercedes driver George Russell suggested in Australia that the Woking-based outfit would be able to win every grand prix this season given its dominance at Albert Park.

Norris emerged victories there before teammate Oscar Piastri triumphed in China, though only after Lewis Hamilton won the sprint for Ferrari.

"I think the people that say that, the unbeatable stuff, it is just nonsense," insisted Norris, speaking ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. "They like to talk crap sometimes.

"It is the job of the media to try and figure out these things, try to understand what they are saying and prove what they are saying is a fact rather than 'I can just say a load of crap and you write it down'.

"If we go back one year ago, Red Bull were still a lot further ahead than we are now. The fact they had two drivers up there, dominating, they were a lot further ahead than we are now."

Not as dominant as Red Bull?

McLaren's pace-setting form is a continuation of the improvements made in the past two years that have seen the team usurp Red Bull as the dominant force in the championship.

And while Norris is confident in McLaren's performances, he is wary of the chasing pack.

"I'm confident at every track at the minute that we are strong," he said.

"We've seen over the last week and a half people saying they don't think we are that far away.

"So as much as Max might say stuff, like his last stint in China was very strong - still not as good as ours, but a lot more competitive - Fred Vasseur said he thinks Ferrari should be competing against us and a lot more up there, in fact they beat us in the sprint and qualified ahead of us, so not that far ahead of them.

"People love to be saying that.

"We are the only team that has two good drivers at the minute. That's the big difference. If one of us was not as strong... the sprint, Oscar was second or third and I was already eighth, but you'd have that a lot more often like you do with Ferrari or like you do with Red Bull."