LEWIS PUSHED TO THE MAX
Norris is thrilled by close title race
LANDO NORRIS believes Formula One fans are getting to see “a new side” of Lewis Hamilton as he battles Max Verstappen for the world championship.
Verstappen, 24, leads the drivers’ standings by eight points going into the penultimate race of the season this weekend on a new track in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Despite having seven titles under his belt, there has been a clear change of tactics from 36-year-old Hamilton to defend hard against the current championship leader.
And McLaren star Norris has been impressed by the response shown by Hamilton to a challenger 12 years his junior.
Norris said: “You’ve seen a new side of Lewis this year, he’s in a proper battle with someone – and someone also much younger. That changes a little bit of just how someone would think. If Max was just doing well, but not challenging Lewis, you’d get much more of the, ‘He’s a great driver, he’s doing well, hopefully, he can challenge me at some point’.
“But when he’s suddenly there, it changes a lot.”
With only Abu Dhabi to come after Sunday’s race, Verstappen could wrap up the title if Hamilton has a disastrous weekend.
The Dutchman would need to secure the fastest lap alongside a win, with Hamilton finishing sixth or lower, or he wins and the Briton is seventh or lower. Verstappen can also seal the title if he finishes second with the fastest lap and Hamilton is 10th or lower, or if Hamilton fails to finish and Verstappen comes in the top two.
Norris admitted that even the other drivers are gripped by the drama of the title race. “It’s exciting to watch and see them going head-to-head,” said Norris. “Lewis has not had the challenge for the past few years for a title.
“For the fans, it has been a much cooler season to watch F1.
“I’m a fan of racing, even when I’m in it, so when I get to watch it up close it’s a very exciting spectacle. And the fact that it’s so close and swings always one way and then to another – and it has gone so far into the season as well with a couple of races to go – that has been really cool.
“It’s great for the sport, especially with his domination over the past few years, to see Lewis get challenged a little bit more.”