Norris reveals added Verstappen advantage in F1 title fight

Lando Norris has detailed an added advantage Max Verstappen possesses in the F1 title fight.

Norris currently sits 52 points behind Verstappen in the drivers' championship with six race weekends - including three sprint events - remaining in the campaign.

Verstappen is hunting for his fourth consecutive title but has slumped back in the F1 pecking order at recent events as Red Bull has struggled to extract speed from the RB20 car.

However, the 27-year-old's long-term position competing at the front of the field offers him an advantage in the battle for the championship, according to Norris.

“Max is probably the hardest guy to race on the track,” the McLaren driver told The Athletic.

“He’s probably one of the most aware in terms of situations. And helped by him being in this position for the last four or five years. For me, it’s still quite new.”

The pair have already come together this year with a collision occurring towards the end of the grand prix, eliminating Norris from the race.

Verstappen was ultimately deemed at fault for the crash and was issued a 10-second time penalty.

Although it resulted in a large points loss for Norris, the 24-year-old has reflected positively on his approach to the battle.

“Things didn’t end the way I wanted them to,” Norris said. 

“And I still feel like on that Sunday, I probably won the battle of … taking the fight to him, although I didn’t win who came out on top that day.”