Nov.8 (GMM) The pinnacle-to-head for the 2024 drivers’ world championship highlighted the psychological hole between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Christian Danner, a former System 1 driver who’s now a widely known German-language pundit, mentioned Verstappen took the chance to deal “unimaginable psychological blows” within the final laps of his victory from P17 on the grid at Interlagos.
“On the finish of the race, when he was already within the lead, he did one quickest lap after one other,” Danner advised Servus TV. “In doing so, he’s dealing unimaginable blows to all of the others.
“The message was ‘Why are you even bothering?’ Along with this insane efficiency, he’s simply extremely steady. It’s clear that he’s robust, however he’s additionally mentally very robust and can’t be shaken.”
In distinction, as he went head-to-head for the title in opposition to his good friend Verstappen, Norris has detailed in 2024 how nervous he will get earlier than races, whereas he has additionally struggled to make good race begins and keep away from driving errors.
Danner says Norris, 24, made a number of attribute errors from pole in Brazil.
“It’s no surprise he has no self-confidence anymore,” mentioned the 66-year-old German. “There is just one approach to overcome your insecurities as a driver, and that’s to achieve success.
“And when you’re actually below the highlight, you possibly can rapidly break mentally. I’m curious to see how he offers with it any longer. As quickly as he wins once more the whole lot can be high quality, however he makes too many errors.”
Danner mentioned that even when the race at Interlagos began in moist circumstances and Verstappen was P17 on the grid and going through main potential factors losses to Norris, “he made the distinction by staying calm”.
“‘Sure, I’m far behind, however I do know what I’m doing’. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what characterises absolutely the greats,” Danner added.
Fellow former F1 driver Christijan Albers additionally sees the stark psychological distinction between Verstappen and Norris.
“Drivers like Lando Norris make far too many errors,” the Dutchman advised De Telegraaf. “He additionally received irritated within the interviews, when after all the questions are going to be concerning the world championship.”
Albers additionally sees the respective distinction between Verstappen and Norris mirrored of their groups.
“At McLaren, they’ve sort of simply thrown it away,” he mentioned. “Issues can flip round in a short time in System 1, and Verstappen has fully turned it round.
“The stress was on, after which Norris and Oscar Piastri failed, as a result of they’re not constant. I miss that combating spirit and aggression at McLaren. You don’t see it in them, however you do see it at Purple Bull.”
