Norris delivers ‘Verstappen level’ acceptance in F1 title fight

Lando Norris has conceded he has not been performing at a level to beat Max Verstappen despite being pleased with the first half of the current F1 season.

Norris took to the podium eight times in the opening 14 rounds this year, including in Miami where he became a grand prix winner.

The McLaren driver sits second in the drivers' championship and has largely been Verstappen's closest challenger during the campaign.

Norris often took aim at his own shortcomings during the season, a strategy he has not wavered from during the summer break.

“It's still the same, really - just things I've looked back on and learned from,” Norris told media including RacingNews365 when asked to summarise his season to date after reflecting during the summer break.

“But I'm fighting for a championship. I’m not going to be happy if I'm not performing at the level that I need to do to beat Max, Red Bull and other drivers that I need to be beating.

“I'm still very happy with how the season has gone, but [there have been] just one too many mistakes and a few too many points given away, which is not the level I need to be at if I want to fight for a championship and fight against a driver like Max.”

Norris addresses start concerns

At the last race from Belgium, Norris criticised his car placement on the opening lap, which caused him to drop several positions.

The 24-year-old highlighted his first laps have been a key focus in a bid to boost his results going forward.

“It's a mixture of things, but starts and lap one,” Norris said when asked to describe where he needs to improve. 

“It’s not like a single thing I need to change, that's where most of my opportunities have gone away. 

“After lap one, generally, the races have been very strong, the pace has still been very good, the race pace has been a good strategy I've been very happy with.

“So there are still so many strong things but always overshadowed by having a bad start, or a bad Turn 1 or being a bit safe at times, trying to stay out of trouble.”