Lando Norris pinpoints the exact moment he realised Max Verstappen was beatable after all

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have formed one of F1’s newest rivalries in the past year or so. Their friendship has been tested, but it seemingly remains intact.

Norris’ McLaren team were still rebuilding when Verstappen won the first of four straight championships in 2021. By the second half of the 2023 season, they were the nearest challengers to Red Bull, but still a long way behind Christian Horner’s all-conquering squad.

The Bulls maintained their advantage in the early rounds of 2024, but McLaren’s upgrade at the Miami Grand Prix proved to be one of the most successful in recent F1 history. It paved the way for a constructors’ championship that nobody had expected.

It also gave Norris an unforeseen opportunity to challenge Verstappen. He couldn’t reel in the Dutchman’s commanding advantage, but he forced him onto the defensive.

That led to on-track clashes at the Austrian GP, where Norris retired with damage, and the Mexico City GP, where Verstappen received two 10-second penalties. Both drivers are also eyeing this year’s title, though Oscar Piastri has emerged as a brand-new contender.

Lando Norris says Miami Grand Prix win transformed his perspective on F1

Speaking to Formula 1’s official website, Norris says his Miami win transformed his confidence levels. The Englishman had qualified fifth, but he extended his first stint and benefitted from a perfectly timed safety car.

Norris was able to pit for fresh tyres and retain the lead of the race. While there was clearly an element of fortune, he streaked clear of Verstappen, who had minor damage, after the restart.

Before that moment, Norris wouldn’t go into a race ‘really believing’ that he’d win. But he realised that he was capable of victories, even against an all-time great like Verstappen.

Looking back, Norris doesn’t feel the value of the win was diminished by his lucky break.

“It always puts a smile on my face,” he said. “The joy, the relief… I’m a guy who has to kind of see something to believe it, you know?

“Did I think I could win a race? Yes. But did I ever go into [one] really believing I’m going to win? No. So, after achieving one, that gave me a bit more of the belief, like, ‘Okay, I can win a race in F1, and I can beat Max’.

“Was I a bit lucky in Miami with the safety car and things? Yes. But that’s the way of racing. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t… sometimes you just have the boring races, and you’ve got to qualify well. At the end of the day, no matter how, I won a race in F1.”

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris could both suffer from F1’s upcoming rule change

Heading into this year’s edition of the Miami GP, Piastri is 10 points clear of Norris, and 12 clear of Verstappen. He’s won three of the last four races.

Jolyon Palmer says Piastri is ‘unflappable’ and isn’t sure if Norris shares that same quality. Mistakes in qualifying, most notably a crash in Saudi Arabia, have derailed the 25-year-old recently.

Norris’ former teammate Daniel Ricciardo once called triple-headers ‘savage’ for an out-of-form driver. But the fortnight break after Jeddah offers a chance to reset.

This year’s championship could well hinge on the outcome of the FIA’s front wing clampdown at the Spanish GP. A recent report claims Red Bull and McLaren could both suffer from the rule change, which will affect performance in high-speed corners.