Lando Norris claims Max Verstappen will “fight more” despite risk of F1 race ban

Lando Norris expects Max Verstappen to “fight more” regardless of being on the edge of a Formula 1 race ban after his clash with George Russell in the Spanish Grand Prix.

There are few drivers on the current Formula 1 grid who know Verstappen as well as Norris.

The McLaren racer has competed against the reigning world champion for years and went wheel to wheel in the title fight last season before eventually losing out to the Dutchman.

Norris, then, is perhaps one of the best people to ask about Verstappen’s approach, criticised and derided since he crashed into Russell during the Spanish GP a fortnight ago.

Verstappen was duly punished for the incident, hit with a 10-second penalty and three penalty points on his superlicence – taking him to 11 points in total and teetering on the edge of a one-race ban.

Just a single penalty point at either of the next two races will result in the suspension but, when asked ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend if he needed to change his approach, he bullishly replied: “Why should I?”

Norris has had his fair share of scuffles with Verstappen but agreed with his rival when asked if sticking to his guns was the best tactic.

“Max is one of the best in the world because of how he drives. I don’t think anyone can argue against that. I think it’s quite a simple statement,” he told Motorsport during his media session in Montreal.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“Of course, he said he shouldn’t have done what he did. You can speak to him, you don’t need to speak to me about it but I’m sure he regrets doing what he did.

“What he did last weekend was obviously a little different to probably what he normally does. It was not just a simple aggression, and good, strong, on-the-edge defensive moves. It was something obviously a little bit separate from that.

“No, I think Max is who he is, and he’s achieved what he has because of how he drives. There is no reason for him to change that side.”

In fact, Norris offered a counterargument to the suggestion Verstappen should curtail his aggressive style.

“I don’t think anything really changes,” he added. “You don’t know what he’s going to do. So at this point, I’m trying to think of what to do that differently. It’s the same as normal. I think he’s still going to fight. He’s further behind in the points.

“If anything, he’s still going to fight more. So no, there’s no point in trying to assume things or just guess because when you’re in the position of fighting on the track, you can’t just try and think: ‘oh, he’s going to give me more space and then he doesn’t and then something happens’.

“There’s no point assuming things or trying to think what other people are going to do. He’s still fighting for the championship. He still wants to try and win every race he can.”