Martin Brundle suggests Lando Norris ‘underestimated’ one thing when fighting Max Verstappen this season

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McLaren star Lando Norris and Red Bull’s champion-elect Max Verstappen are set to battle it out for the 2024 world championship over the course of the next two months.

Max Verstappen has the advantage at this stage of the campaign, with Lando Norris still 52 points behind the triple-world champion.

That gap has been slowly decreasing, but Norris needs to make up nearly nine points at every race weekend between now and the end of the season to claim this first title.

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

Formula 1 has produced its fair share of incredible storylines over the years and there’s nothing better than a championship battle going down to the final race.

Red Bull and Verstappen were the beneficiaries of that in 2021, and while McLaren will know if Norris is going to win the championship it will go down to the race in Abu Dhabi, they’ll hope to have the Constructors’ Championship wrapped up by then.

Martin Brundle was speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the United States Grand Prix about the battle between the pair.

Norris has admitted that he’s capable of putting his friendship with Verstappen aside while racing but Brundle still thinks he’s got something to learn when it comes to competing with the 27-year-old.

The Austrian Grand Prix highlighted what happens when Norris and Verstappen get too close on track.

Frustratingly for Norris, he was forced to retire and missed out on scoring points entirely, while Verstappen overcame a ten-second penalty to further extend his lead over the Brit.

Brundle has warned Norris that he can’t afford to underestimate Verstappen again this season.

Martin Brundle’s Max Verstappen warning for Lando Norris ahead of the US Grand Prix

Asked how important the experience is that Norris has gained this season, Brundle said: “[It’s] massive, I think.

“In Austria, we saw they tripped over each other. Lando underestimated his mate Max as to how aggressive he would be in combat.

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

“I think he’s learned from that. He’s still on a slope like that [goes upwards] I think in terms of his learning.

“So, winning races consistently, he’s just started to do that now, leading from pole at the end of the first lap, he’s got that sorted out and just the way he won in Holland [at Zandvoort] and the way he won in Singapore was just incredible.

“So, all of those things will give him confidence.”

Martin Brundle still doesn’t know whether Norris can cope with Verstappen championship fight

Norris has overcome several key hurdles this season to become Verstappen’s closest title challenger.

Despite all of this potential, the 24-year-old only won his first race this season in Miami.

Less experienced teammate Oscar Piastri secured a Sprint Race win in his maiden season but Norris has one more Grand Prix win than the young Australia.

Norris’s race starts were then criticised as he failed to lead the first lap of a race the first six times he started on pole position.

However, Norris stormed away from Verstappen in Singapore and was never in any danger of being caught by the Dutchman as the race went on.

Brundle still thinks there are some unknowns about Norris’s world championship potential, but the upcoming triple header will determine whether he’s going to take it down to the wire.