- Vettel serving as an inspiration: Norris intensifies the competition against Verstappen
Max Verstappen keeps his cool in Formula 1. Following the drubbing by Lando Norris in the desert dunes, his coach and Red Bull motorsport strategist Helmut Marko stepped in as the wake-up call. "It's concerning. The team needs to step up their game, or both titles could be under threat," Marko reportedly told the specialist magazine "Autosport" post-race after the summer break return.
Verstappen maintains the driver's championship lead with a 70-point edge over Norris after his fifth winless Grand Prix. However, Red Bull's lead in the constructor's championship has narrowed to a mere 30 points over McLaren.
Marko: "Finishing second nine times isn't enough"
The sting came in the form of almost a 23-second gap between Verstappen and Norris at the finish line. The three-time world champion suffered defeat in true Red Bull style. "Our tech team needs innovation. Finishing second nine times isn't enough," Marko cautionarily warned.
Zandvoort, Verstappen's home track, favors McLaren. Thanks to an effective upgrade and a new rear wing, Norris could even afford a sluggish start. But on par courses, the two-time Grand Prix winner from England can't afford slip-ups, with Verstappen ready to pounce mercilessly.
Verstappen advises against panic
"This weekend was just a bad weekend. But the recent races haven't been all that great either. It's slightly disconcerting, wouldn't you say?" Verstappen said, appearing unfazed. "But we know we don't have to panic. We're trying to improve the situation."
From the following weekend in Monza, Verstappen and Red Bull will revert to older but high-performing parts. "We still have a decent lead in the driver's championship, but we've dropped some points in the constructor's championship, so we need to react," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. "I'm confident we can make the adjustments."
On the other end, the question is: Can Norris muster the ability to possibly even force Verstappen into a championship showdown? McLaren team chief Andrea Stella believes in Norris' potential to become a champion. "He definitely has the champion's potential," Stella said. "He can win championships. That's a bold statement, but it's true."
Norris aims to mimic Vettel
Already in 2024? Surprisingly, McLaren looks to Red Bull for inspiration for its comeback in the annals of history - specifically, a German. "We've discussed it and looked at what (Sebastian) Vettel did in 2013. We thought, 'Why not us?'" said Stella.
Vettel won all nine races following the summer break in 2013, ultimately clinching his fourth consecutive title. However, Red Bull's car was unparalleled that season, unlike Verstappen's this one.
McLaren has matched Red Bull in development for quite some time now. And Norris intends to capitalize on this advantage. "I need to improve. I've worked hard all year and I'm still 70 points behind Max. It's silly to think about anything else right now," Norris said, regarding his championship aspirations. "I just take it one race at a time and keep pushing like I have, because there's no point in thinking ahead. It's irrelevant to me at the moment."
Marko expressed concern, stating, "Finishing second nine times isn't enough for us, other teams are catching up and we need to innovate to maintain our lead."
Stella believed in Norris' potential, saying, "He definitely has the champion's potential, like Vettel did in 2013. Other teams might be close, but we need to keep pushing and improving to succeed."
