The ‘biggest problem’ facing Lando Norris in title battle with Max Verstappen

Follow us on Google Discover

Lando Norris enters the second half of the season in a good position after McLaren overtook Red Bull in the Formula 1 car development race.

The MCL38 has become one of the quickest packages on the grid in recent races, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri scoring the most points of any driver and team combination in the last eight races.

This has enabled McLaren to reduce the points deficit to Red Bull at just 42 points, while Norris is close to taking the fight to Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship.

The Briton has come close to winning several of the last few Grands Prix, but there are questions over whether Norris forfeited too many points with a series of strategic and unforced errors.

Norris believes there is one key area he must improve heading into the final 10 races of the season, but former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestly believes there is another problem facing him when speaking on his YouTube channel.

The problem facing Lando Norris in Max Verstappen title battle

Norris has been fortunate enough to finish ahead of Verstappen on several occasions so far this year, but there has also been another team that has emerged as credible race winners.

Mercedes have turned around their fortunes and have now won three of the last four Grands Prix with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Priestly believes this could prove to be a problem for Norris as he tries to chip away at Verstappen’s championship lead.

“Lando has a very quick car and at some circuits the quickest, but to overcome that points deficit he needs to consistently not just beat Max, but take significant points away from Max,” said Priestley.

“I wonder if his biggest problem here could actually be the fact that Mercedes have also had something of a resurgence in recent races.”

Can Lando Norris become World Champion?

Mathematically it is still possible for Norris to become the Drivers’ World Champion this year, but it would take an impressive run of races to dethrone Verstappen.

Verstappen holds a 78-point lead which is the equivalent of three race wins, but any reliability problems could see that slashed if Norris can deliver a strong points finish.

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

Norris has admitted that he might not have what it takes yet to win a title, with McLaren focused on sealing their Constructors’ Championship since 1998.

The spotlight on the Briton will be intense, meaning any more mistakes that cost him a shot at victories could be significant in the title battle.