Lando Norris will start the Las Vegas Grand Prix behind title rival Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver needs to score at least three points more than the Dutchman to keep his title hopes alive. Yet, he is not conceding defeat: “The race is long and anything can happen.”
“Reaching the top four was not achievable,” Norris admits after the qualifying round to Sky Sports. “Mercedes is by far the fastest team, with Ferrari close behind. Red Bull and we ourselves are significantly behind, as was evident during the qualifying. We had hoped for more, but we are struggling with various issues at every turn. Sometimes it goes well, but then suddenly it doesn’t. It was very difficult and simply too big a challenge with the car. Finding the right lap time without exceeding the limit proved to be a delicate balance.”
All eyes are, of course, on the climax of the title fight that could take place tomorrow during the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Whether he wins tomorrow or not, nothing will change for me. It is highly likely that he will win the championship. I am here to race and to do my best in every race. Whether Max finishes ahead of me or not, it is what it is,” Norris later told the assembled press in Las Vegas.
Yet, the Brit is not conceding defeat. “He is just ahead of us and I think we have a chance to beat him tomorrow. We might start the race on hard tires and everything might fall a bit our way, because we have always been a bit weaker on the soft tires. The race is long and anything can happen. And we are faster on the straight sections, so hopefully that plays to our advantage.
