McLaren’s Lando Norris admitted on Thursday that his challenge for the Formula One title is likely over following a disappointing performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix earlier this month.
Norris finished the Brazilian GP at No. 8, picking up only eight points, while his rival and reigning champion Max Verstappen got the win and picked up 25 points to further increase his lead at the Drivers Standings.
“I kind of know the position I’m in now, and probably I have less to lose now,” Norris said. “You know, the gap to Max is … for the first time, probably when I’ve looked at the gap myself and had the realization of where things stand, and I think post-Brazil was a tough one for me because it was the first moment realistically when I’m like, it’s tough to achieve first position now.
Verstappen now has 393 points, 62 more than Norris, with three races left in the season. Prior to the Brazilian GP, the gap was 47 points. Red Bull’s driver now only needs to finish ahead of Norris in one of those races to clinch his fourth straight F1 championship.
“We were on such a good run of form, little by little, you know, it’s hard to get any big points on Max because he didn’t have any bad races, but I had a tough week because things just didn’t go our way, and my kind of real fight for the championship was slimmed by the biggest margin of almost of the whole year, “Norris added.
Verstappen will have a chance to secure the title on Saturday at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
