Carlos Sainz scrutinizes his former teammates Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The two drivers were embroiled in a title fight this year, and Norris’s critical side often came under the spotlight. Sainz reveals whether he is as self-critical as the Brit, or if he shares more in common with the confident Verstappen.
Lando Norris fought for the world title for the first time in 2024. Thanks to the powerful MCL38, the McLaren driver was able to give Max Verstappen a run for his money on several occasions. However, after Verstappen’s impressive comeback in São Paulo, the battle seems to be over, and it’s now only a matter of time before the Dutchman secures his fourth world title. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko previously made the controversial statement that Norris “lacks the mental strength to win the championship.”
Carlos Sainz, a former teammate of the Brit, now shares his opinion on the matter. The Madrid-born driver warns that there is a difference between how the drivers appear and who they really are. “Of course, you only see the exterior. On the inside, things can look very different for a driver,” the Spaniard explains, speaking to the German Auto, Motor und Sport. “As a driver, you can always tweak how you are perceived from the outside. I’m not saying Verstappen isn’t as he appears, but Norris shows a bit more of himself.”
Public Image
The McLaren driver is often critical of himself after qualifications and races, and has already admitted that he needs to find a better balance in this regard. Verstappen, on the other hand, comes across as much more confident. Where does Sainz himself fall on the confidence scale between Norris and Verstappen? “I’m not sure if I’m somewhere in between, or lean more towards one side, but you have to be careful with such analyses,” the Madrid-born driver warns. “Drivers are very capable of shaping their public image in a certain way.
