Lando Norris reacts to Max Verstappen F1 title dig: ‘He should start doing comedy’

McLaren driver Norris is focused on the constructors’ title after Verstappen secured his fourth championship

Kieran Jackson
Formula 1 Correspondent
Thursday 28 November 2024 13:00 EST
Comments
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen embrace after F1 title battle ends

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Lando Norris joked that Max Verstappen should go into comedy after the Red Bull driver claimed he would have won this year’s F1 world title sooner if he was driving in a McLaren.

Verstappen sealed his fourth successive world championship in Las Vegas last weekend, with Norris now unable to catch him with two rounds remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Yet the Dutchman told sections of the media after the race in Vegas that he would have won the 2024 title “even earlier” in a McLaren – and at “pretty much the same” time in a Ferrari. Red Bull are currently third in the constructors’ championship.

Yet Norris, when asked about Verstappen’s statement, sharply rebuked: "He should start doing comedy or something. He can say whatever he wants.

"Of course, I completely disagree, as I would. He’s good, but, yeah, it’s not true.

"Red Bull probably would have won the constructors’ if they had two drivers as good as Max, that’s for sure.

"That’s clear. That’s obvious. It shows that as a team they’ve still probably done the best job. It’s tough.

Lando Norris missed out on the 2024 F1 title
Lando Norris missed out on the 2024 F1 title (Getty Images)

"Max has proved with everybody that he has gone up against, he has beaten. That’s tough for any teammate. It has got nothing to do with me. I don’t care. He can have any teammate he wants."

Verstappen is a mammoth 251 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez, whose future at Red Bull is shrouded in uncertainty ahead of the final two races.

Norris is looking to seal second place in the drivers’ championship, with Charles Leclerc just 21 points behind in third. McLaren go into this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix with a 24-point lead over Ferrari.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in