Lando Norris Admits to Being "Not Quite" on Max Verstappen's Level

Lando Norris had two chances to close the gap to title leader Max Verstappen last weekend, in the US Grand Prix sprint and standard races, but ultimately fell short. Despite a dramatic penalty that cost him a place in the standard race, Norris remains in the hunt for the championship, but acknowledges that he needs to improve to reach Verstappen's level. Norris's teammate and Red Bull's Verstappen have traded blows on track and in the media, with Verstappen and his team defending the penalty that was handed to Norris.

Key Takeaways:

• Norris admits to not being at Verstappen's level, citing the Dutch driver's exceptional defensive and attacking skills.
• In the US Grand Prix standard race, Norris was penalized for overtaking Verstappen while being forced wide, which cost him a place and saw Verstappen's lead increase to 57 points.
• Norris and his team disagreed with the five-second penalty, which was handed out after the 24-year-old overtook Verstappen.
• Verstappen defended the penalty, stating that he simply followed the rules, while other drivers and teams criticized the decision.
• Norris and Verstappen's teammates, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, also expressed disagreement with the penalty, with Hamilton suggesting that Norris was exploiting a loophole.
• The Mexico Grand Prix is next on the calendar, where Verstappen will look to move closer to a fourth straight drivers' title.

Statistics:

• 57 points: the increased lead that Verstappen has over Norris after the US Grand Prix.
• 5 points: the remaining points left in the championship after the US Grand Prix.
• 2: the number of Grands Prix and 2 sprints remaining in the season.
• 27: Verstappen's age.
• 24: Norris's age.

Sources:

• The BBC: Lando Norris admits he is 'not quite' at Max Verstappen's level
• Reuters: Caption: McLaren's Lando Norris (right) speaks to Red Bull's Max Verstappen.