Max Verstappen considers Lando Norris one of his closest friends on the F1 paddock. The Dutchman has picked him as his closest ally in several interviews. However, their friendship has taken a backseat, with both drivers now top contenders for world titles. The intense rivalry started in the Austrian GP when the two crashed, instigating a row of verbal exchanges blaming each other for the incident. Lando Norris’s phenomenal performances fueled the rivalry, as he kept cutting Verstappen’s lead.
The RBR triple champion could sense a defeat as McLaren looked almost unstoppable while his RB20 was crawling. In Austin GP, Verstappen tried to block Norris’ maneuver and outside the white line. However, the Briton followed him, and the race stewards rewarded him with a five-second penalty. Later in Mexico, the Dutchman found himself at the receiving end as his defensive tactic earned him two 10-second penalties. The RBR starlet was aching for victory, enduring a ten-race winless streak. The moment finally arrived on a trick, rain-ridden Interlagos circuit. Max Verstappen delivered arguably one the best performances of his career, winning the race after starting from P17. However, it was Lando’s post-race unusual remarks that got the media’s attention.
Lando Norris Applauds Max Verstappen Despite Claiming He ‘Got Lucky’
The Brazilian GP was one of the most exciting races of the current season. Max Verstappen cruised to victory despite starting just three positions from the back of the grid. There was also an Alpine double podium finish, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly rejoicing in the triumph together. However, the weekend’s biggest talking point was Verstappen’s racing mastery, as he broke the streak of 10 races without a win. The more surprising part was that he steered a struggling RB20 to an emphatic victory. Therefore, the Dutchman was poured with accolades following his historic win.
With that, Verstappen boosted his lead to 62 points over Lando Norris, who finished in a disappointing sixth spot. The Brazil GP has brought Verstappen a step closer to his fourth consecutive world title. He will become only the second F1 racer to clinch four world titles in successive years, following in the footsteps of his former teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Now, Lando Norris has also joined everyone to congratulate Verstappen. The Brit commented on the Dutchman’s latest post; “Nice Drive Mate.” Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and several other racing giants also applauded Verstappen’s impressive feat. However, it took a while for Norris to appreciate his friend. Earlier, he credited Verstappen’s “luck” with the victory. The Briton was disappointed by Verstappen getting a free tire change during the red flag condition. Meanwhile, Norris pitted just before the crash, losing an advantage.
Max Verstappen Takes A Dig At “Biased” British Media
Max Verstappen and his father, Jos Verstappen, have accused the UK media of showing bias towards Lando Norris. Earlier, even Helmut Marko pointed out partiality in the media towards the British racers. However, Verstappen took a sly dig at the press after the Brazil GP. He asked; “I appreciate all of you being here, but I don’t see any British press. Did they have to run to the airport – or they don’t know where the press conference is?”
