via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 18, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris after finishing in first and third respectively Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 18, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris after finishing in first and third respectively Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon
Lando Norris is enjoying his best start to a Formula 1 season ever. To add to his P4 (Bahrain) and P3 (Imola) finishes, he claimed another top-five finish at the Portuguese Grand Prix last weekend. While the Briton did not have the best time during practice, he pushed hard during qualifying to ensure a good start to the race.
When Max Verstappen approaching Norris during the former’s flying lap, McLaren asked their driver to not do any favors for the Red Bull driver. However, Norris got well out of the Dutchman’s way and caused him no problem.
The Woking outfit’s radio call did not impress Helmut Marko; he called McLaren and Mercedes out for collusion, stating that they were collectively trying to make things difficult for Verstappen.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In a recent interview, Lando Norris stated that he found the Red Bull Supremo’s comments hilarious.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 27, 2021 McLaren’s Lando Norris before practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Norris explained, “I saw these comments, I found them pretty funny. For some reason, he blamed it on Mercedes. So I got no clue what he’s talking about. Why would Mercedes have anything to do with it?”
READ MORE: McLaren: That’s One of the Reasons Why Lando Norris Is So Popular
Lando Norris clarified he did nothing wrong
Even though McLaren asked Norris to not do any Verstappen favors, he got out of the way when the Red Bull approached. The Briton stands by his acts and believes that the Austrian team could be feeling this way because they couldn’t qualify ahead of the Silver Arrows.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 17, 2021 McLaren’s Lando Norris in action during qualifying REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
He said, “I think he was obviously a bit annoyed that a Mercedes qualified ahead of them. Any team boss isn’t going be happy with that. So maybe they’ve just been blindsided, not looking at that. But yeah, I did nothing wrong.”
To be fair, Norris has everything right so far this season. He qualified for Portuguese GP in P7 and claimed a P5 finish. The McLaren driver has finished in the top-five for all the races and is currently at the P3 position on the driver’s championship.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
He has grown as a driver and his confidence is at an all-time high. He hopes to continue the good run and score some important points in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix as well.
Do you think the Briton can claim another podium next race weekend?
