Button Suggests Norris Can Beat Verstappen Who Is In 'High-Pressure' Position

Wednesday, 16 October 2024 at 18:00

Jenson Button said that he now believes Lando Norris can snatch the Drivers' title from Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen.

With six Grand Prix weekends to go before the end of the season, Lando Norris has a lot to do in order to catch up with Max Verstappen, who leads the Championship.

Even if Norris won all of the nine remaining races (including sprints) and collected all six points available for the fastest laps, it wouldn't be enough to beat Verstappen if the Dutchman always finished second.

Jenson Button is a driver who was in a position similar to Verstappen in his championship winning year in 2009. After winning six of the first seven races, his team lost their competitive avantage.

In the remaining seven races, Button didn't score a single victory. While he did manage to bring the title home, the 44-year-old remembers very well the pressure he faced as his competitors started catching up.

During his most recent appearance on the Sky F1 podcast, the British former F1 driver suggested that he now believes Lando Norris can win the title.

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"Yeah, I think he [Norris] can [win the title]. I've been on the Max side of it where the car isn't performing as it was earlier in the season and you're having someone chase you down. It's tough."

"Max is a tough cookie. I don't think the pressure gets to him like most drivers but this is a tricky situation. He's already got it into his head that he's not going to win another race this year."

Red Bull's motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, stated that Verstappen's mental strength will be one of the main reasons he beats Norris this year. On the other hand, Button says he can imagine the pressure getting to Verstappen.

"He's in a position where he's just got to come home, bring points. But sometimes when you've put that pressure on yourself, it's even harder to get a podium."

"It's still up in the air. Max is in a good position but it's a high-pressure position it's in and I think that's exciting."

"F1 as a whole is in such a good place right now, we have so many teams fighting for victories. I didn't expect it this year, I really didn't, but I'm pleased, it's great to see four teams fighting for wins."