Lando Norris admits he “raced like a muppet” after falling short against Max Verstappen at the US Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen secured a hard-fought third place finish at COTA, outperforming Lando Norris.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were engaged in an intense battle during the 2024 US Grand Prix. In the final stages of the 56-lap race, both drivers fiercely contested for position, but ultimately it was Verstappen who emerged victorious with a P3 finish.

Following the intense mishap, Lando Norris admitted that he didn’t perform effectively in his race against Max Verstappen. On lap 52, Norris overtook Verstappen by going off the track but did not relinquish the position back to him.

As a result, he received a five-second penalty that cost him the third-place finish at COTA.

After observing the 24-year-old’s response following the race, it’s evident that he’s deeply disappointed with his performance. He specifically mentioned his lap one battle against Verstappen, where Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc outperformed both of them. Additionally, he reflected on his overall outing and admitted that he could have performed much better than he did.

Lando Norris has been highly self-critical regarding his performances this season, frequently attributing any shortcomings to himself. This pattern continued following last week’s US Grand Prix.

While the Brit described himself as a muppet, McLaren boss Andrea Stella believes he gained valuable insight at COTA.

I wouldn’t suggest that Lando should be more aggressive. Engaging in these types of on-track duels offers valuable learning experiences each time.

With only five races left in the 2024 F1 season, Norris trails by 57 points behind the three-time world champion in the driver’s standings. Given this situation, starting from Mexico onward, he’ll need to deliver his absolute best performance.

If not, the McLaren star will lose the golden opportunity to secure his first world championship in top-tier motor racing. All attention will be focused on Norris at the renowned Mexican Grand Prix.

Rishabh Negi has been a part of FirstSportz for two years, contributing over 3000 articles. His expertise ranges from crafting engaging short news pieces to producing in-depth long-form content. A dedicated follower of top-tier motor racing and an enthusiastic Arsenal football fan, Rishabh holds a Master’s degree from the Delhi School of Economics. For him, writing about F1 offers an escape from life’s daily challenges.