Lando Norris shares how Max Verstappen improved after 2021 title battle with Lewis Hamilton

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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen have become rivals this year. And yet, there doesn’t appear to be any real animosity between them off-track, a far cry from the days of 2021.

That may be partly because Norris has always been an outsider, unlike Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver heads into the Mexico City Grand Prix 57 points behind, which means he needs to produce one of the greatest comebacks in F1 history.

By contrast, Hamilton and Verstappen entered the final race of the 2021 season level on points before an Abu Dhabi finale that was historic for a whole host of reasons. They collided three times over the course of the campaign.

Norris tangled with Verstappen in Austria this year, with the former retiring and the latter picking up a 10-second penalty. But they spoke after the race and avoided any damage to their friendship.

Instead, the war of words has played out between the senior leadership at both teams. Zak Brown rebuked Helmut Marko for questioning Norris’ mental strength, and the McLaren Racing CEO has also been at odds with Christian Horner.

There was another flashpoint at the US Grand Prix as Norris and Verstappen battled for third place in the closing stages. The Englishman received a controversial penalty for overtaking off the track, but McLaren felt he’d been forced wide.

Lando Norris says Lewis Hamilton has made Max Verstappen more resistant to pressure

Speaking to F1TV ahead of the Mexican GP, Norris admitted he was still ‘learning’ while fighting seasoned winner Verstappen. The Red Bull superstar is on course for a fourth consecutive world championship.

He’s won the title with multiple races to spare in the past two years, but after the events of 2021, he’s also used to driving under extreme ‘pressure’. Norris feels that’s a key advantage given that this is his first year with a race-winning car.

Even if the 2024 title proves beyond reach, they could go head-to-head next year as well. Norris may even enter the season as the favourite if McLaren are able to close out the constructors’ championship.

“I’m trying to beat Max, he’s raced against Lewis for championships in these environments that build pressure, more than I have,” he said. “But I’m learning and I’m doing the best I can, but I want to win, I want to be successful and I want to beat Max so I won’t be happy until I do that.”

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Jolyon Palmer feels Norris ‘underestimated’ Verstappen in Austin. He dials up his aggression in key moments, testing the boundaries of the regulations.

Norris should be wary if he goes wheel-to-wheel with the Dutchman again this weekend. Verstappen knows he’ll all but secure the title if he can protect his advantage in the ongoing triple-header.

F1’s rules of engagement have been one of the big talking points in the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez paddock. Hamilton feels Verstappen has been exploiting a ‘grey area’ for years.

The seven-time world champion believes that the sport should have full-time stewards in an effort to erase inconsistencies. Currently the panel rotates from one weekend to the next.