With a gap of 52 points from Max Verstappen, Lando Norris is preparing for the last six races of the Formula 1 championship with great determination: in the pre-US GP press conference in Austin, the English McLaren driver showed confidence in his team and its potential, underlining that the battle for the title it's far from over.
A season finale that promises to be gripping
After a month off, Norris feels ready to tackle the final rush of the season: “I would have liked to continue straight after Singapore because we were in a good moment, but the break allowed us to recharge our batteries. Now we are focused and ready for these last six races,” he said. The Englishman stressed the importance of maintaining concentration and making the most of every opportunity, especially in a context where even the Sprint Races can make the difference.
Confidence in McLaren: “We can be at the front anywhere”
Lando Norris highlighted the progress McLaren has made and said he is very confident ahead of the Austin weekend: “Some things have changed here, like the asphalt and the kerbs, but we are ready. I think our car allows us to be competitive everywhere. If we continue with this pace, we can do it.” McLaren, thanks to the improvements to the MCL38, has proven to be one of the strongest cars in the championship, and Norris is confident the team can maintain the level shown in recent races.
The challenge with Verstappen and the point taken away by Ricciardo
Asked about the title fight, Norris preferred not to focus only on Verstappen for the Austin GP: “I don’t just look at him, but at all the drivers. My job is to focus on myself, regardless of Max’s position”. Regarding the fastest lap that Daniel Ricciardo took away from him in Singapore, Norris was clear: “There is no problem, I will never get angry with Daniel. If I were to lose the World Championship by one point, I would know in which situations I made mistakes. It has been a fantastic year, and if I finish second it will be because Max and Red Bull will have been better”.
An opportunity not to be wasted
With six races and plenty of points still up for grabs, Norris reiterated that the championship is still wide open. “Everyone thought Verstappen would win easily this year, but we managed to make things difficult for him. I am proud of what we have achieved so far. It has been a successful year regardless, but I don't want to stop here. I want to keep fighting and picking up points.” The battle between Norris and Verstappen promises to be a rollercoaster, with the English driver determined to make life difficult for the three-time world champion.
Source statements: SkySportF1
