Lando Norris delivers Max Verstappen statement after title triumph

Lando Norris has stated that Max Verstappen is not "unbeatable" after securing a maiden drivers' title in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Verstappen converted pole position into victory at the Yas Marina Circuit, but Norris finishing in third meant the McLaren driver won the championship by two points. 

Norris handled his nerves in the season finale to achieve a childhood dream, with it also representing Verstappen's first title defence failure having reigned supreme since 2021.

The Dutchman gave it everything in pursuit of a record-equalling fifth consecutive title, almost completing the most remarkable of comebacks after being 104 points adrift after Zandvoort.

It took Norris everything and more to ensure Verstappen did not defend his title, with him now being the only F1 driver to have defeated the 28-year-old in a title fight.

Asked what it feels like to have beaten Verstappen to a world title, Norris said: "Look. I hate ever having to try and compare myself to other people. This is all for you guys to decide whether someone’s better than someone else or not. 

"All I try and do every weekend is the best of what I can. But then you decide he’s better than him, or he’s got a worse car and he’s doing better – write what you like, decide what you like. I certainly feel like at moments I've driven better than I feel like other people can. 

"And I feel like I drove at a level I don't think other people can match. But have I also made my mistakes? Have I made more mistakes than other people at times? Yes. 

"Is there stuff Max could do better at times than me? Yes. Do I believe he's unbeatable? No."

Norris' Red Bull struggles awareness

Despite Norris judging Verstappen as beatable, the world champion quickly noted that things did go against Red Bull this year. 

The Milton Keynes-based outfit struggled across the first half of the season, with its car having only really come alive from the Italian GP where it introduced a new floor.

"But you also don’t know, do you?" added Norris. "It’s hard to know. Like, they also struggled with the car in the mid part of the season. They’ve had an incredible second half of the season. 

"They took advantage of the fact we had two of us fighting for a world championship. He really made the most of that and Max drove like he is a four-time world champion. 

"And I’m very happy that I got to race against him and try to prove myself against him.""