Karun Chandhok has highlighted two pivotal moments where Lando Norris didn’t quite measure up, while Formula 1 adversary Max Verstappen “did his job properly”. The Dutch sensation is on the brink of clinching his fourth F1 championship title.
He’s a whopping 62 points clear of Norris in the drivers’ standings and could wrap up his triumph at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix by outperforming the British driver.
Norris seemed to be gaining ground on Verstappen, but his hopes took a hit at the Brazilian Grand Prix earlier this month. Despite securing pole position with Verstappen lagging at 17th on the grid, the Red Bull ace delivered an astounding performance—fortuitously aided by a safety car—to claim victory amid the Sao Paulo downpour.
In a discussion with the Mirror, Sky Sports F1 analyst Chandhok revisited two other crucial clashes between the pair, pinpointing where he believes Norris and his team missed the mark. One such instance was the Austrian Grand Prix, where a collision in their battle for the lead handed the win to George Russell.
Chandhok remarked: “I think Austria was an interesting case where Max pushed the boundaries and Lando perhaps did not expect him to push the boundaries in that same way,” adding, “There was no doubt Max squeezed Lando, but it was a move that he has done before with Carlos Sainz a year before, but Sainz was wise to it and realises that Max races in an uncompromising way.
“You have to pre-empt that and you have to have your wits about you. So I think, in that case, Lando could have moved left where there was space and he would have passed him probably into turn four and won that race as he had more speed.”
The ex-racer also highlighted the United States Grand Prix where controversy ensued; Verstappen fought hard against Norris who was later sanctioned for overtaking off the track.
After being advised by his team not to yield position due to allegedly leading at the corner’s apex, Norris was penalised. “He could have given that place back and, frankly, he should not have overtaken off the track,” stressed Chandhok.
“We all know this – you cannot gain a lasting advantage irrespective of the rules around being forced off track. Again, it was a sign that Max knows the rules. He knew he had to race to the apex. He knew the guidelines at the moment say you do not need to stay on track. He knew all this stuff.”
Chandhok further critiqued the McLaren pit wall’s guidance, insisting that they should have informed Norris: “McLaren should have been telling Lando about this and Lando should have recognized that those were the guidelines that Max was playing with. Max did absolutely everything to the limit, but he was right not to be penalised because he knew the rules in Austin, whereas Lando overtook off track.”
“So again, it is an example that you have to be absolutely on top of everything, racing situation, rules, Max just explores the limits on everything and you have to be prepared for that. And that is his job, by the way. He does his job properly, Max.
“Knowing the rules is a big part of the job. In a racing situation, wheel to wheel, there is only one person in the cockpit and that person is the one that has to deal with it. I think McLaren need to take some of the rap for Austin, telling him not to give the place up.
“I was watching on my sofa at home just on the Sky box, I rewound to the apex, paused it on the replay and went, ‘You are not equal at the apex, what are you talking about? Why are you telling him that on the radio?’ I was literally shouting at the TV, I was a classic fan shouting at the television going, ‘What are you doing? He is not equal to the apex, tell him to get the place back’.”
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