Verstappen hits back at Norris for 'talking nonsense'

21:17, 29 Nov

Updated: 22:58, 29 Nov

byTim Kraaij

Max Verstappen sees the pressure mounting on Lando Norris after the Brit’s remarks about Verstappen in the press conference. According to Verstappen, it has a lot to do with the title fight.

"I always put facts on the table."

- Max Verstappen

After qualifying third for the Qatar Grand Prix, a relaxed Verstappen spoke to the press, making it clear that there's much to gain for the Dutchman. “Yeah, just about,” Verstappen said when asked if he’s still in the title fight.

From P3, the reigning champion also has less to lose at the start of the GP than say Oscar Piastri and Norris: “Especially Lando,” said Max. “I think he knows that too. On the other hand, I’m not too worried about it. I’m just trying to do my best.

“If there’s a chance, of course you go for it, but on the other hand you don’t want to do anything crazy either. That doesn’t help you at all.”

Verstappen sees Norris under pressure

Verstappen was pressent in the post-qualifying press conference after finishing in the top 3, which his previous P4 in the Sprint had prevented him from doing. In his absence Norris was asked what he thought of Dutchman’s claim that he would have already been crowned champion if he was driving the McLaren car, to which Norris responded dispondently.

According to Verstappen, it’s not surprising that Norris is talking about him again. “It’s a bit tougher this weekend… Oscar feels good; you could see that in Q3, I think. He (Lando) still has a good lead, also on Oscar. So it’s still a bit hard to say.”

Verstappen bites back after Norris’s comments - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

On Thursday, Verstappen already indicated that he has an advantage over Norris. By that, Verstappen mainly meant his experience of winning titles, something neither Norris nor Piastri has ever experienced.

GPblog asked Verstappen after qualifying whether these kinds of remarks from Norris show that he’s under pressure. “Well, I don’t know. That’s always hard to say, of course. But from my experience, I know that when you’re going for your first title, there’s naturally more pressure than afterwards.”

In the same press conference, Norris also claimed that Red Bull is generally more aggressive and therefore spouts a lot of ‘nonsense’. Asked about that, Verstappen concluded: “No, I always put facts on the table.”