Lando Norris reflects on title fight: 'I wasn't ready' ahead of Las Vegas GP
Las Vegas, NV – McLaren driver Lando Norris has acknowledged that he was not prepared to challenge Max Verstappen for the Formula 1 title this season, following a tough defeat in Brazil earlier this month that effectively ended his hopes.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the British driver reflected on the disappointment of the race at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit. Despite starting on pole, Norris finished sixth, while Red Bull’s Verstappen impressively surged from 17th to first place.
Verstappen is on the brink of securing his fourth consecutive world championship if he manages to outperform Norris in Las Vegas this weekend.
"It was a defining moment for the championship. The doors are almost shut," said Norris, currently 62 points adrift of the triple world champion with only three rounds left in the season.
"For a week, I was pretty down after Brazil because I had that realization of things are pretty much out of my control now, not within reach necessarily.
"That's a tough realization when hopes and your belief is so high. For it to get knocked down so much all of a sudden was pretty demoralizing and not the best of feelings. But you learn to accept that's life."
Looking ahead, Norris expressed a desire to enjoy the remaining races and vowed to return stronger next season.
"I probably wasn't outright ready to go up against Red Bull and Max. I think I am now and it's probably too late to do that," added the 25-year-old, who celebrated his first win in Miami in May.
"Maybe other drivers in the past were ready for such an occasion but no one has gone up against Max so early on in their career, halfway through the season, and put up a pretty reasonable fight.
"I'm there but there's no one else doing it. I've done my best, I've not done well enough and I've always admitted that, and I think Max is probably one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1.
"I don't think you'll probably get a much better driver than Max in Formula 1 ever again ... for me to fight against that person that I know is so good, takes a bit more than what I've probably achieved this season.
"But I think what I've done since the summer break is closer to what I need to be and I think that is close to being good enough to fighting for it next year."
As the season nears its end, McLaren leads Ferrari by 36 points in the constructors' championship. When questioned about his priorities for the remaining races, Norris emphasized that the team's success remains paramount.
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