Norris disagrees with Verstappen's claim: 'Here you can do it'
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12:37, 24 Jul
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Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Lando Norris doesn't agree with Max Verstappen. The defending world champion believes drivers still make the difference.
Verstappen argued that drivers can no longer make the difference because of the current generation of cars. Speaking to GPblog, among others, the Dutchman explained: "By being faster sometimes in the corner, you lose more on the straight afterwards, which, of course, is not how it should be, right? I mean, in every kind of racing series, if you gain time in the corner, that's just free lap time.
"You would not then be penalized on the straight normally. Where now you really have to think about, ‘oh, I have to use a different gear,’ your braking technique, or the way you go back on throttle, you need to be different.
"It's basically just neutralizing a lot of lap time and that's why I guess in general you see a lot of close battles between teams or teammates also, because you there is sometimes just you cannot make a difference, like you're not allowed to make a difference because it will just penalize you on the next straight," the Red Bull driver concluded.
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Lando Norris - Photo: Race Pictures
Norris somewhat disagrees with Verstappen
The McLaren driver was also asked about Verstappen's verdict. He explained: "You certainly can [make the difference], yeah. I mean, there's obviously some corners get a little bit more eliminated.
"Pouhon last year, where you can maybe get close to doing it flat, and someone who doesn't do it flat, you maybe gain half a tenth.
"Some corners, yeah, maybe it tightens up, but if you're a better driver, there's still, most corners are still corners to try and gain an advantage on everyone. So I wouldn't say I necessarily agree with everything. I think if you're driving better, you're still going to be ahead."
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According to Norris, how much a driver can influence the result also depends on the circuit. "At the very fast tracks, like Silverstone and Spa, there are less corners at the end of the day that you can gain lap time.
"But on a track like this, I don't think that's true at all. Some of the corners this weekend are going to be bigger corners than they were ever before because the top speed into Turn 11, top speed into Turn 4 is higher than last season with less grip. So in fact, it's almost the opposite. You say it's a chance for you to make more of a difference as a good driver," he concluded.
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