piastri-norris-verstappen-on-the-monza-podium

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri during the Italian Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

Norris: Verstappen is one of the "best drivers ever in Formula 1"

21:29, 03 Oct

Updated: 22:11, 03 Oct

byShayni Solanki

Lando Norris claimed that it is "almost impossible" to be "as good" as four-time world champion Max Verstappen, as he is one of the "best drivers ever in Formula 1."

Runner-up in the Drivers' Standings, Lando Norris, shared amid a fierce championship fight that Verstappen is "hard to beat" because of his racing background.

With Verstappen's father Jos competing in hundreds of races partnered with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, and a karting legend for a mother, Norris believes that Max was "born into an F1 seat."

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri stood on the podium in Singapore last year - Photo: Race Pictures

"He never goes to 101%, but he will always be at 100%, and when he has a bad day, he is at 99%."

- Lando Norris

Norris told ESPN: "I don't want to say or believe that I will ever be as good as Max because I think that is the wrong thing to tell myself.

"He is one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1, so if anyone ever comes up to you and says, 'Yes [they will be as good as Verstappen]', just tell them to f--- off.

"Any driver in the world can just be confident in saying that kind of thing, but I think it is almost impossible.

"Do I believe on some days I am better? Yes. Do I believe my teammate on some days is better? Yes. But it is about how good he is at being consistent which is impressive.

"He never goes to 101%, but he will always be at 100%, and when he has a bad day, he is at 99%."

Norris: 'Hard to beat someone born into F1 seat'

With Max Verstappen sitting only 44 points behind Norris in the Drivers' Standings, the Briton has a lot to worry about in the coming races.

McLaren's blunders at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix allowed Verstappen to pick up some extra points on the British team, inching him closer to splitting the McLaren's in the championship.

"And it is hard to beat someone who was born into an F1 seat," Norris continued.

"If I could go back and choose how to be a better driver, I would also have a mum and dad who were racing drivers, start when you are a baby in the paddock, start karting at whatever age he did and do more testing than everyone else.

"I would be a better driver now if I did all of those things. So people have to catch up because he was made to be in the position he is now, but he is also making the most of that, and that is why he has four world championships."

Verstappen has already got off to a great start at the Singapore Grand Prix, securing the third fastest time ahead of Norris' fifth in FP2.

While Norris praises Verstappen for being the very best, work is to be done if the Briton is to triumph over the reigning world champion.

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