Despite his victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen fell short of claiming his fifth consecutive world title. His rival, Lando Norris, managed to secure a podium finish, thereby clinching the championship. However, many experts agree that the Dutch driver was in a league of his own this season. Four-time world champion Alain Prost also ranks Verstappen among the absolute best: “He is clearly above the rest.”
Lando Norris narrowly won his first world championship on Sunday. With a slim margin of just two championship points, he managed to stay ahead of Max Verstappen. Teammate Oscar Piastri finished thirteen points behind. After the race, Norris admitted that Verstappen and Piastri had given him a tough time, but he had enjoyed the battle. Speaking to Canal+, Alain Prost emphasized that Norris had made an impressive turnaround this year, but he couldn’t quite match Verstappen.
“Incredible things have happened with Lando,” said the Frenchman. “At the beginning of the season, he wasn’t very strong, while Oscar (Piastri) was. But then he made a strong comeback. And Verstappen… he made a comeback that no one saw coming,” Prost continued. Although the former driver admires Norris’s season, he had to admit that Verstappen made the biggest impression. “I have to congratulate Lando, but Max is clearly above the rest.”
‘Ultimately, Norris is British’
“I think all three drivers deserved it this year, but for different reasons,” Prost explained. “So, Lando remains a rightful champion,” he complimented the Brit. “However, it’s difficult to compare his season with Max’s, as he was somewhat alone within his team. The other two took slightly more victories and points from each other. You had to be resilient and mentally strong this year,” concluded the former McLaren driver.
“Norris had a consistent season, with the necessary flair, although it may not be as impressive as what Max Verstappen has shown,” Prost said with a wink. “The question is whether we will now see a new Norris. Perhaps we will also see a different Piastri, as he is now the challenger. He made a strong comeback, but we must not forget that Lando is ultimately British,” he concluded significantly.
