Danica Patrick has urged Lando Norris to stop publicly admitting his inferiority complex to Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen.
McLaren’s Norris has moved closer to within 47 points of Red Bull’s Verstappen with four rounds remaining in the 2024 season after another fierce duel between the pair at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Sunday.
Verstappen, winner of 61 races, is seeking his fourth consecutive drivers’ title, while Norris, winner of three races, is seeking an unlikely first championship.
Norris said in the build-up to the race in Mexico that he was “still not up to the level” of Verstappen, who beat the Briton to third and beat the McLaren driver after a disputed finish in Austin last weekend. I was punished.
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Danica Patrick and Martin Brundle analyze why McLaren’s appeal against Norris was rejected.
“Don’t say that anymore. I think that’s the approach he needs.” Sky Sports F1 Expert Patrick, the only female driver to win an IndyCar Series race.
“He needs to think of himself as an aggressive guy, a top driver. The problem is that Max has had so many wins compared to him that that is always in the back of his mind.
“But I don’t think it necessarily has to be voluntary.”
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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc made a big mistake allowing Norris to overtake him, but avoided a crash at the Mexico City GP.
Norris pulled off a comeback against Verstappen in Mexico City, with his rival receiving two 10-second penalties for two overly aggressive moves against the Briton on the same lap.
The incident ultimately cost Norris his chance at victory, but Verstappen took sixth and took advantage of the McLaren’s strong pace to take second.
Patrick added: “Lando is continuing to get good results and is playing more of the driver role we expect him to have to win, so I think his story will probably change a little bit.
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Verstappen and Norris clash once again this season as Verstappen throws Norris off the track several times.
“But that is the case (Verstappen is superior now).
“I don’t think that’s something you would normally say as a competitor.”
Norris: Maybe I wasn’t aggressive enough.
After Sunday’s race, Norris appeared to provide more details about what he meant, admitting he was not performing at Verstappen’s level.
“I always fought fair. That’s who I am as a racer and how I drive every day.” said Norris, who has a chance to gain more ground on Verstappen at this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
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Norris said Verstappen would realize he had gone too far during the track battle at the Mexico City GP.
“Maybe I lost because I was too fair and not aggressive enough. And that’s where I need to find a better balance. And that’s the change I’ve said I needed to make since last weekend and over the course of this year.
“When you race against these top athletes, you learn a lot and have a better understanding of all types of balance: attack, defense, risk management, aggression.
“I’m going to do what I can. I’m going to race fair. If he doesn’t, things will go the way they did today. But I think he wants to race fair. I hope so. I think he’s seizing that moment. He seems to enjoy it, even when it’s a fair fight.
“All I can do is keep doing what I’m doing. I feel like I’m doing a good job. We’ll see what happens.”
Live Sao Paulo GP schedule on Sky Sports F1
Thursday, October 31
4 p.m.: Driver press conference
Friday, November 1
2:00 PM: Sao Paulo GP Practice 1 (session starts at 2:30 PM)
4:30 PM: Team leader press conference
6:00 PM: Sao Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying (Qualifying starts at 6:30 PM*)
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Take a look back at the most dramatic moments from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Saturday, November 2nd
1pm: Sao Paulo GP sprint build-up
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint
3:30 PM: Ted’s sprint notes
5pm: Preparing for the Sao Paulo qualifiers
6pm: Sao Paulo GP qualifying
8 p.m.: Ted’s Qualifying Notes
Sunday, November 3
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5 p.m.: Sao Paulo Grand Prix
7pm: Checkered flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
8 p.m.: Ted’s Notes
*It will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s Americas triple-header concludes this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with all sessions broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership. There is no contract and you can cancel at any time.
