'Like a 12-year-old': Luyendyk slams Norris' fear and praises Verstappen’s coldness

15:08, 22 Jul

byNorberto Mujica

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk has hailed Max Verstappen as a complete driver while taking a swipe at Lando Norris for what he described as immature radio communication.

Speaking to Paul Tracy for The RACER, Luyendyk compared the two drivers’ approaches during the 2024 Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix, which he watched back on Netflix.

"I was watching the Brazilian race on Netflix, and there's the radio communication. And then you hear Lando [Norris] on the radio, and then you hear Max, and it's like you're listening to a 12-year-old Lando and you're listening to a 30-year-old veteran Max, (27 years old, ed.)," Luyendyk said.

Luyendyk praises Verstappen’s composure and mocks Norris’ radio calls

The former IndyCar star then poked fun at Norris’ panicked tone when discussing weather conditions during the very wet race at Interlagos, whilst at the same time praising Verstappen.

"So calm, so calculated. Like, 'Yeah, I can last another five minutes in this weather,'" he said of his countryman.

"And Lando was saying, 'Oh, we're all going to die,' or something like that."

The Dutch racing legend also praised Verstappen’s ability to process information at incredible speed.

"He can do so much at the same time. He's a multitask kind of guy. And I think it stems from all the racing he did as a kid in go-karting."

Luyendyk then remembered a particular moment that he used as evidence to back his claim.

"But then the sim racing, that helps him a lot too — like he was following Lando somewhere (in the 2924 F1 Qatar Grand Prix, ed), and he said he [Norris] didn't slow down enough when there was a yellow out, and Lando got a penalty for that."

"He just sees it, the whole picture, he's got it in one nanosecond," the two-time Indy500 winner said.

Although Verstappen has continuously shot down any chances or rumours around him joining the IndyCar series, Luyendyk does not give up hope that he may yet see his fellow Dutchman raving in America: "I would love to see him in an IndyCar," he concluded.