Lando Norris makes ‘very strong’ Max Verstappen comment immediately after the United States GP

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McLaren driver Lando Norris has been chasing down his teammate Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ championship for months, but is now well aware of the threat of Max Verstappen looming behind him.

Max Verstappen delivered another perfect weekend for Red Bull at the United States Grand Prix.

Verstappen won Sunday’s race at COTA, after taking two pole positions and winning Saturday’s Sprint Race, only missing out on the fastest lap during the Grand Prix to Andrea Kimi Antonelli which denied him a seventh career Grand Slam.

He was joined on the podium by Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, with drivers’ championship leader, Oscar Piastri, having another tricky weekend.

McLaren have now wrapped up the constructors’ championship, and many fans were hoping that would mean their two drivers could race each other between now and the end of the season.

Norris spoke of repercussions for hitting Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix, but the two making contact during Saturday’s Sprint Race has further complicated matters for team principal Andrea Stella.

While this was going on, Verstappen was adding points to his tally, and he’s now only 40 behind Piastri when the gap had grown to more than 100 before the summer break.

Norris has now given his verdict on Verstappen’s performance at the United States Grand Prix, and whether he believed he could catch the Dutchman had Leclerc not done such a brilliant job holding him off.

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

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen is doing a ‘very good job’ after United States Grand Prix win

Norris was being interviewed after the race on the Chequered Flag Podcast and said: “[It was] enjoyable. Obviously, I would have liked to have challenged Max but considering I could barely get past the Ferrari who wasn’t as quick as Max then I wouldn’t have been able to get past anyway.”

Asked how cautious he had to be considering he still needs to think about the championship, Norris continued: “No, it doesn’t change anything.

“I mean I don’t want to get taken out no matter what but no after turn one I tried and did everything I could to try win but not enough today.

“It’s just three people battling for a championship, you know.

“Max is doing a very good job, I can’t fault him. Their car’s been very strong and he’s maximising that like he always does.

“So yeah, it’s what I was expecting really, it’s going to be a tough battle. I expect there will be some races I’m hoping where we’re just a little bit better and probably some where they’re quicker like they have been for a good amount of races recently so yeah we’ll see what we can do.”

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

Lando Norris’ overtaking under the spotlight as he breaks Alain Prost’s McLaren record

Norris broke Alain Prost’s record for most podiums in a season for a McLaren driver by finishing second at the Circuit of the Americas.

The 25-year-old has a slight advantage over Prost considering there are far more races on the F1 calendar now than there were during the Frenchman’s career.

However, McLaren will be pleased with the consistency that Norris is showing since the summer break, as before he was sometimes failing to extract the maximum out of his car, especially during qualifying.

Fans noticed Norris struggling to overtake Leclerc, even when the Monegasque driver’s soft tyres were beginning to fall off.

He had less trouble during the final stint of the race when he was on a softer compound compared to Leclerc, but by then, Verstappen was out of sight.

McLaren need to find a way to contain Verstappen heading into the Mexico City Grand Prix, otherwise, they might have to prioritise one of their drivers over the other to make sure they win both championships.