Lando Norris on the Austin podium - Photo: Race Pictures

Norris jokes with Verstappen and Leclerc: 'If your mum had balls…'

01:06, 20 Oct

byOlly Darcy

Lando Norris shared a joke with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen during the press conference at the United States Grand Prix.

Norris jokes with Verstappen and Leclerc: “Who knows? If your mum had balls…”

"I found it difficult enough just to get close to Charles, and their pace wasn't bad at all."

- Lando

At the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen produced a quote now infamous in the world of F1: "If my mum had balls, she'd be my dad."

Now, in Austin, Norris responded in a very similar way when asked whether his race would have changed if the lap 1 overtake from Leclerc hadn't occurred.

"Who knows? What was it that you said once? If your mum had balls, she'd be your dad!" the Brit laughed, before going on to answer the question.

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc on the podium at the United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"Who knows? But starting on the soft, starting on the right side of the grid, he had the advantage in turn one on the outside.

"After yesterday, I was a little bit wary. I didn't want to go too wide in turn one because I didn't want to end up in the gravel again. So, yeah, I kind of had to just stay on the inside and stick to the safe route, but Charles did a good job, and I got past.

"Who knows after that? I found it difficult enough just to get close to Charles, and their pace wasn't bad at all. With ten laps to go, he was six seconds off Max. It wasn't like they were far away on pace."

Norris and Leclerc battle hard

Going into the first corner at the Circuit of The Americas, Leclerc used the soft tyres and the outside of the track to his advantage, making the move into turn 1 with a fine overtake.

The defensive work from the Monegasque was hugely impressive too, with some firm but fiat moves on the Brit not allowing him to make any overtake stick.

However, when it looked like the chance had disappeared for Norris, he returned in the final few laps on the soft tyres to take P2 and gain some vital points in the drivers' standings.

Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc battling at the United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

"The pace was pretty close. I think that's why it was so difficult," continued the 25-year-old.

"We were quicker, for sure, but not by a lot. Therefore, there were some lap after lap battles, trying to put him under pressure, trying to make him make some mistakes here and there.

"He didn't make many, for sure, but I think, especially the final stint, I managed to get the tyres into a good window and drop back, re-attack, and I managed to catch him off-guard, let's say, with a couple laps to go. So, a good result in the end.

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