Norris Had To Treat Verstappen Differently Than Hamilton Did Explains Brown

Friday, 27 December 2024 at 16:00

Zak Brown explained why Lando Norris needed to approach Max Verstappen differently than Lewis Hamilton did in 2021.

McLaren Racing F1 driver experienced his first fight for the drivers' championship title in 2024 when he had the chance to catch up with Max Verstappen towards the end of the season.

The two battled on track at almost every single Grand Prix, and the Dutchman was always the more aggressive one, with Norris having to go out of his way to avoid collisions.

Following the end of the season, some pundits suggested that the 25-year-old was perhaps not as tough as he should have been in his battles against the four-time world champion.

However, the CEO of McLaren Racing, Zak Brown, believes his driver did what was right considering all the circumstances. He told the media:

"I think Lando has learned a lot on how to race Max. I think Max has been transparent on how he races, i.e., try and pass me on the outside; I've been trained to not let you pass me on the outside."

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In fact, Max Verstappen, at one point, clearly stated that he would not let anyone pass him around the outside and that he would push other drivers wide, which is in line with regulations as long as he is first at the apex.

The important thing for Norris was that McLaren's priority was the constructors' championship, which meant he couldn't afford any collisions with Verstappen.

On the other hand, Verstappen had a considerable point lead, and a mutual DNF with Norris would only suit him. Consequently, the Red Bull Racing driver could always afford to be the aggressive one, while Lando Norris had to be careful to prevent collisions.

"I think Lando put up a great fight in Mexico, but also kept them out of an accident, and we got the constructors' going on. Lewis eventually went right, this might end in tears for both of us."

"We can't afford that lesson at this moment. So I think Lando has done the right thing, and I think he knows how to race Max, and I think he'll race him differently next year.

Although Verstappen was widely criticized for his driving style at the time, ultimately, all ten team principals unanimously voted him the best driver of 2024.