Red Bull’s Max Verstappen reflected on the “different” feeling of racing his “friend” Lando Norris to the 2024 Formula 1 title.
Verstappen ascended to the ranks of F1 legends to hold four successive titles as he crossed the line in fifth place during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Unlike the two seasons prior, Verstappen has had to work hard for his title success this year, with stiff completion from the likes of McLaren’s Norris.
The Dutchman reflected on his battle with Norris post-race in Vegas, which no doubt was a different experience from his fierce title battle with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
In his own words, Verstappen said “Lando, I know him, of course, for a long time already.
“So to race a friend of yours to the title is always a little bit different.
“But I think we have a lot of respect for each other.
“And yeah, well, I’m sure that we’ll have many more battles to come.”
Verstappen: Norris ‘made 2024 very difficult for me’
2024 started off swimmingly for Verstappen and Red Bull and he won the first four of the first five races of the year with ease.
The only bump in the road through Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan and China came in Melbourne when the Red Bull ace suffered a DNF.
However, Norris’ maiden victory in Miami signified a changing of the guard in F1 and despite Verstappen winning three of the next four races, the Dutchman went on a barren run of 10 rounds without a Grand Prix victory.
In that time McLaren took turns with the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari to enjoy the top step of an F1 podium with Norris picking up further victories at Zandvoort and Singapore to put in a genuine title challenge.
That all came undone in Brazil however, with Verstappen taking match point with a 17th to first stunner at a wet Interlagos circuit.
“We have a lot of incredible young talent in the sport and Norris is definitely one of them,” Verstappen said off his thwarted competitor.
“And of course, at times, [Norris] made it very difficult for me.
“We simply didn’t have an answer in many races where they were just clearly faster.
“So that made it, of course, difficult.”
Red Bull overperformed to grant Verstappen fourth title
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledged the United States GP in Austin, Texas as a significant turning point in the F1 title race.
Verstappen was able to claim a Sprint victory at the Circuit of the Americas and won a tough and controversial battle in the GP to pinch third from Norris.
That weekend was one of a few during Red Bull’s barren run where Verstappen got everything and more out of the troublesome RB20.
The Dutch GP at Zandvoort was another occasion where Verstappen was able to lift the damage, finishing an unlikely second behind runaway winner Norris.
“To win a championship, you need to be consistent,” Verstappen explained.
“Sometimes you try to overperform.
“It doesn’t happen every weekend, but sometimes you can. And that’s what we did.
“But of course, McLaren, at the moment, you know, they’re extremely strong.
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