David Coulthard tells Lando Norris what he must learn from Max Verstappen to become F1 world champion

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McLaren driver Lando Norris looks set to fall just short of winning the 2024 Formula 1 world championship after a spirited effort across the campaign.

Max Verstappen drove one of the best races of his career at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix to extend his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

It means that a victory for the Red Bull driver at the next race in Las Vegas will secure the 27-year-old his fourth consecutive championship.

Lando Norris wouldn’t have expected to be battling Verstappen at the start of the 2024 campaign.

It appeared as though McLaren had the fourth-fastest car, sitting narrowly behind Mercedes and Ferrari.

However, impressive upgrade packages improved their standing on the grid and Norris tasted victory for the first time in Miami.

Unfortunately, small mistakes and a considerable deficit to close in the championship meant winning the title was also going to be a tall order for the Brit.

David Coulthard was speaking to the Irish Sunday Mirror about the battle between two of F1’s most talented drivers.

He explained where McLaren might have gone wrong and what Norris now needs to learn from Verstappen if he’s going to try and replicate his success.

David Coulthard tells Lando Norris what he must learn from Max Verstappen

Talking about McLaren’s title chances in both championships, Coulthard explained: “They were maybe a little bit slow to realise just how brilliant a job they have done.

“You could tell from some of their decisions earlier in the year, it was tentative, it was waiting a lap.

“It was just, ‘Oh my god, we are in the hunt, we are ahead of schedule, we expected to be here in ‘25 or ‘26’.

“They have now re-established themselves as a world championship-contesting team.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Coulthard was then asked about next season and Norris’s chances and said: “McLaren will be a much stronger overall competitor next year, as will Lando.

“They have got the speed and they have got the technical skills, I think it is just about understanding who you are fighting.

“Lando is fighting Max, and Max does not care about anything other than trying to win – you must have that same attitude.”

Eddie Jordan hails Max Verstappen as one of Formula 1’s all-time greats

Coulthard and Eddie Jordan host a podcast together but have both been in agreement for some time about Verstappen’s talent.

Jordan called Verstappen’s drive in Sao Paulo ‘off the scale’ and it’s easy to see why given how dominant he was compared to the rest of the grid.

The race nicely summed up where both drivers are in terms of their talent and championship credentials.

Norris started from pole position but once again couldn’t retain the lead going into the first corner, getting jumped by George Russell.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

He then pitted just before the critical red flag, although did manage to find his way back past the Mercedes driver beforehand.

A mistake at the final restart meant Norris had to settle for 6th, while Verstappen not only called the strategy correctly from his cockpit but didn’t put a foot wrong when overtaking anyone on the track.

McLaren and Norris should have an advantage over Verstappen at the start of 2025 unless Red Bull are able to make significant improvements.

That’s when the pressure will really start to build on Norris when he’s expected to be at the same level as Verstappen, otherwise, his teammate Oscar Piastri may sense an opportunity to make a title charge of his own.