‘I have what it takes’ – Norris explains what he’s learned through 2024 after ‘tough realisation’ in title battle with Verstappen

Lando Norris has admitted the days that followed the Sao Paulo Grand Prix were “pretty demoralising” given the points swing in Max Verstappen’s favour, but the McLaren driver is nonetheless taking the positives from his unexpected 2024 title challenge.
Verstappen and Red Bull started the campaign as they left off last year with a dominant run of form, only for Norris and McLaren to emerge as a genuine threat when the Woking team introduced a series of effective car developments.
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On a dramatic weekend in Brazil, Norris reduced Verstappen’s advantage to 44 points by winning in the Sprint race, before that stretched back out to 62 when the Dutchman charged to victory in the Grand Prix amid tricky, wet conditions.
With Verstappen now the clear favourite for what would be a fourth world title, Norris was asked ahead of the Las Vegas weekend what he has learned over the course of the year that will help him heading into 2025.
“That I have what it takes,” the Briton responded. “I think it’s the first time in the last six years of F1 when we’ve had a chance to fight at the front. This is our, and my, first opportunity to do so, and my first opportunity to see where I stand.
“I definitely was not at the level I needed to be at at the beginning of the year, even [after beating Verstappen to a maiden win] in Miami. Since the summer break I feel like I’ve done a very good job and performed very, very well – by far some of my best performances that I’ve done.
“I’ve been very happy with how the last few months have gone, honestly. I wouldn’t change many things that have happened. I still need to make tweaks and I still need to improve on things, that’s clear. I’m not completely satisfied with how I’ve done and I definitely know I need to make improvements.
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“But, for the first time, I’m confident to say I have what I think I need to fight for a championship. It doesn’t mean I’m complete, it doesn’t mean I’m perfect. When you’re competing against drivers who are close to that, like Max, you have to be close to perfect if you want to challenge him.”
Opening up on his feelings after Brazil, Norris added: “This was almost a defining moment for the championship… It was a defining moment for the championship. The doors are almost shut.
“For a week I was pretty down, because I had that realisation of things pretty much [being] out of my control now, not within reach necessarily. That’s a tough realisation when your hopes and belief are so high. For it to get knocked down so much all of a sudden was pretty demoralising.
“You learn to accept that it’s life. I admitted in Miami that I was lucky to get the win with the Safety Car, and that’s the strategy you play. I think Brazil was still a bit more luck, but that’s F1, that’s racing. I’m not complaining about it.”
In addition to Norris fighting for the drivers’ title, McLaren are also pushing for a first constructors’ crown since the 1998 season – sitting 36 points clear of Ferrari and a further 13 ahead of Red Bull with three races remaining.
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“Ferrari have been strong for a long time,” said Norris, as he pondered whether momentum is with the Scuderia. “They have two very good drivers, they’re a very good team, they’ve clearly improved their car a good amount and found a better direction to head down.
“They’ve become probably with us… Some races a bit better, some races a little bit behind, some races the same, as a competitor… Maybe [the momentum is] a little bit with them, but we’re close. Red Bull are close at the same time.
“It’s more who can do a better performance on a weekend. We do know that Vegas is probably a track that will suit the Ferraris a bit more, it suited them well last year, but Qatar we know maybe will be more favourable to us.”
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