Norris is inspired by Verstappen: 'He proved it's possible'
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Updated:
5 Comments
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 is inspired by Max Verstappen's 2025 title charge, as the Briton now finds himself in a similar situation this year.
Norris secured McLaren's first Grand Prix victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season ahead of the summer break at the Hungaroring, while the defending world champion was also victorious at Zandvoort on Sunday.
As a result, he is now fourth in the drivers' standings, 83 points behind Kimi Antonelli.
Last year, Verstappen mounted a similar comeback but ultimately missed out on the title by just two points to Norris. What the Dutchman achieved has also inspired the Briton, he explained to Sky Sports News.
"Just the fact that it's possible. Just the fact to keep believing, keep working hard, keep motivating the team in all the right ways. That's the biggest thing.
ADVERTISEMENT
"He didn't do anything better than we were doing, apart from the fact we made some mistakes as a team in certain places."
Verstappen and Norris on the podium together at the Hungaroring - Photo: Race Pictures
Team orders could help McLaren this year?
During the 2025 season, the McLaren intra-team duel was a hotly-debated topic. "There wasn't anything that we were doing wrong at the time. We just had two drivers fighting for our championship. They just had one," Norris explained.
"It's kind of a similar situation to what Mercedes are in now versus where I am. So, there's not a lot, I would say, to take from it, apart from just keep believing that it's possible until it's not. And that's the attitude we're going to fight with," the Briton concluded.
ADVERTISEMENT
Russell warns Mercedes: 'We are not the team to beat at the moment'
According to George Russell, after two victories in a row, McLaren is now the team to beat in Formula 1.
He explained: "I think we will be slightly more competitive [in Monza]. However, I believe Ferrari have an engine upgrade incoming, and the truth is we just don’t know.
"But I do believe that these high-degradation circuits really suit McLaren very well, and especially Lando. He’s always been a bit of a specialist in those conditions. We also saw it last year."
ADVERTISEMENT
The Mercedes driver therefore concluded: "Monza may be slightly different, but I think they are the team to beat right now."
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
