Lando Norris says he stays dedicated to his aspirations although Max Verstappen re-emerges as a robust contender for the drivers’ championship on the US Grand Prix.
Verstappen has gained 3 times and completed second as soon as up to now 4 races, lowering his 104-point hole with Oscar Piastri to simply 40 factors over the interval. Norris, who’s presently solely 26 factors forward of him with 88 factors, mentioned he approaches the battle the identical although he completed second at COTA and got here inside 14 factors of Piastri.
“It would not actually matter,” Norris mentioned. “I am presently scoring as many factors as I can each weekend, so the extra factors I get, the higher it’s for each conditions. It would not matter. Nothing modifications. I haven’t got to do something totally different for both. It is quite simple. Simply attempt to win for each drivers, and life is straightforward.”
“I do not suppose it can change that a lot (within the standings). We’re near Crimson Bull. One weekend they’re slightly sooner, the following weekend we’re slightly sooner. Mercedes have been the quickest in Singapore, so we can do rather a lot right here.”
Norris confirmed comparable tempo to Verstappen all through a lot of the race on the Circuit of the Americas, however misplaced to Ferrari initially and ended up behind Charles Leclerc.
“[Leclerc]had a smooth begin, began on the proper facet of the grid and had a bonus on the surface in Flip 1…” he lamented. “After yesterday I used to be slightly cautious. I didn’t wish to go too large in Flip 1 as a result of I didn’t wish to fall into the gravel once more, so I needed to keep on the within and keep on with the safer route. Charles did a very good job and I obtained handed.”
“After that, you by no means know. I feel it was arduous sufficient simply to get near Charles, and their tempo wasn’t unhealthy in any respect. You understand, he was about six seconds off Max with 10 laps to go, so it wasn’t like we have been that far off or their tempo was that unhealthy.”
“I feel it was a very good race. The paces have been fairly shut. I feel that is why it was so troublesome as a result of we have been positively sooner, however not by a lot. It was slightly difficult within the laps after the lap battles, attempting to place strain on him and attempting to make errors right here and there.”
“Clearly, he did not have a lot success. Particularly within the final stint, I used to be capable of get the tires in a very good window and I used to be capable of pull again a couple of seconds and assault once more and catch him off guard a couple of laps in.”
“In the long run it was a very good consequence. For a second I did not anticipate to complete second. I assumed he was slightly too quick for us, nevertheless it was excellent to get again to second and go him.”
