Norris retracts controversial Verstappen remarks

Lando Norris has walked back his contentious comments about Max Verstappen's Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory.

In the wake of the spectacular performance from the now-four-time F1 drivers' champion, the Briton said "it's not talent, it's just luck" after a red flag fell fortuitously in Red Bull and Verstappen's favour at Interlagos.

Having lined up P17, the 27-year-old picked his way through the pack and into the lead, in torrid conditions, as those ahead of him came in for fresh rubber.

The mid-race interruption afforded Verstappen a free pitstop, something that helped him on his way to a stunning win, widely considered the most impressive of his now-63 grand prix triumphs.

It also marked a pivotal point in the F1 drivers' championship, with the Red Bull driver pushing his points advantage over Lando Norris to the brink of claiming a fourth-consecutive title, something he would ultimately achieve in the following round in Las Vegas.

Upon being handed his trophy for finishing second in the championship, Norris took the opportunity to recant his previous statement about Verstappen's Brazilian win.

"First of all, I retract that comment back there where I said it was all luck, no talent," Norris said at the end-of-year FIA awards ceremony. "You know how the media change things.

"But congratulations to Max [Verstappen]. What he did this year, what he did in Brazil, of course, was incredible. So I'm the first one to acknowledge such a thing when I'm the one going up against him."

'I need to step it up'

Reflecting on his campaign on the whole, Norris acknowledged the need to improve next term if he is to assert himself in the championship fight. 

"It was a tough season," he added. "Of course, I try to give my best and put up the best battle that I could, but this year was not enough.

"And [at the] same time, sometimes I'm happy to finish second to Max, because I think it's quite an achievement to do a lot better than that.

"So, a wonderful year for myself. A lot of achievements, a lot of improvements from myself, but I also know I need to step it up and do more than I did this year, so I'm excited to look forward to next year and try to do the same."