Max Verstappen’s new No1 F1 rival makes ‘too many mistakes’ like Charles Leclerc

Follow us on Google Discover

Ralf Schumacher claims Lando Norris has now emerged as Max Verstappen’s biggest rival but the McLaren driver makes ‘too many mistakes’, just like Charles Leclerc does.

The 23-year-old pushed Verstappen for the win at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday after falling short in the Sprint. Norris started last Saturday’s event from pole position but lost out to the 26-year-old at the start. He even fell behind George Russell but regained P2 on Lap 5.

Norris pipped Verstappen for pole position for the Sprint by only six-hundredths of a second at Interlagos. It proved the single-lap potential McLaren had at the Sao Paulo GP after Norris only finished qualifying for Sunday’s race in seventh having missed the best track conditions.

Schumacher feels Norris is now Verstappen’s No1 rival in Formula 1

Tyre management would ultimately deny Norris a real chance to challenge Verstappen in the Sprint. Red Bull’s superior tyre management to McLaren also allowed the three-time drivers’ champion to control the Sao Paulo GP after weathering Norris’ attack in their opening stints.

A brilliant start saw Norris launch up the order from seventh on the grid to be second out of the first corner on Sunday. He leapt past the slow-starting Aston Martin’s of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso plus Mercedes pair Russell and Lewis Hamilton, while Leclerc did not start.

A mechanical failure saw Leclerc crash out of the Sao Paulo GP on the formation lap from P2 on the grid. The Monegasque momentarily lost power and power steering and span into the barriers at Turn 7. It robbed the Ferrari driver of a chance to improve on his P5 in the Sprint.

The McLaren driver ‘still makes too many mistakes’ just like Leclerc

Norris taking P2 in the Sao Paulo GP saw the McLaren pilot stand on the podium for the fifth time in the last six Grand Prix. He also followed Verstappen home in Japan and the USA, plus third in Qatar. The Briton also took P2 from Carlos Sainz at the Singapore GP to start the run.

A first win in Formula 1 of any kind was on offer to Norris in Qatar, had he strung together a perfect weekend. Teammate Oscar Piastri won the Sprint from pole position after Norris ran wide on his last flying lap. He also finished the Grand Prix in third after qualifying in just P10.

But falling foul of track limit infringements in qualifying and scuppering his hopes of pole for the Sprint in Qatar are just two examples of where Schumacher believes Norris still needs to improve. The ex-Toyota ace says Norris eyes too much in qualifying and goes past his limits.

Schumacher likens Norris’ single-lap desperation to how Leclerc can throw away chances for race victories. The Ferrari star has failed to win the last seven races he has started from pole position. He has also turned just four of his 22 career poles into race wins, including Sprints.

“Lando Norris has become the number one pursuer,” Schumacher told Sky Germany. “But he still makes too many mistakes, especially in qualifying.

“Norris reminds me a bit of Charles Leclerc. However, Norris does a great job in the race. Norris’ problem is that he wants too much in qualifying. Then he overshoots and makes too many mistakes.”