‘I retract that’, Lando Norris takes back controversial Max Verstappen comments made during bitter end to F1 season
LANDO NORRIS has retracted a controversial comment he made about Max Verstappen after a race this season.
The Brit helped McLaren win their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998 and also finished second in the Drivers’ Championship.
He gave Verstappen a good test for most of the season but ultimately came up short, with one Grand Prix proving pivotal.
In Brazil at the beginning of November Norris squandered his pole position to finish sixth, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag despite starting 16th on grid.
McLaren’s decision not to pit Norris before a red flag cost him the chance of a win, with Verstappen able to change his tyres before claiming the win.
Norris bemoaned Red Bull’s luck in a comment he has now retracted.
He said after the race in Brazil: “It shouldn’t have been red flagged, that was the crash in the end which caused the red so that’s life sometimes. You take a gamble and it’s paid off for them. It’s not talent, it’s just luck.
“I don’t care about the hindsight side of things, that’s luck for them [Red Bull], nothing more.
“They got lucky on a rule [the freedom to change tyres under a red flag] that no one agrees with. Probably them they agreed with it but every driver has disagreed with it in the past.
“Today it benefitted then, it could have benefitted us if we just stayed out, but that’s a stupid thing to think of. Just a bit unlucky today, nothing more. Of course, disappointing.”
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Norris, 25, did also admit Verstappen was faster in Sao Paolo but during an appearance at the FIA Awards he made sure to retract his previous statement.
He said: “First of all, I retract that comment back there, where I said it was all luck, no talent.”
Norris continued: “First of all, congratulations to Max [Verstappen]. What he did this year, what he did in Brazil, of course, was incredible.
“I’m the first one to acknowledge such a thing when I’m the one going up against him. It was a tough season, of course. I tried to put up my best and give the best battle that I could, but this year was not enough.
“At the same time, sometimes I’m happy to finish second to Max, because I think it’s an achievement to do a lot better than that. A wonderful year for myself. A lot of achievements.
“A lot of improvements from myself — but I also know that I need to step it up and do more than I did this year, so I’m excited to look forward to next year and try to do the same.”
The pair clashed on and off the track this year with Verstappen receiving two penalties after forcing Norris off the circuit at the Mexico Grand Prix.
Norris said on radio after the incident: “This guy is dangerous. I just had to avoid a crash. It’s the same as last time.”
They also clashed at the Austrian Grand Prix and both suffered punctures, but it was Verstappen who again was hit with a penalty.
But the pair were on good terms by the next race with Verstappen, 27, saying: “The only thing that I cared about is maintaining my relationship with Lando, because we are great friends.
“That for me, after the race, I said we have to just let things cool down because emotions run high.
“I think we came to the conclusion that we actually really enjoyed our battle.
“We looked at the incident, it was such a silly little touch that of course had great consequences for both of us, and a bit more for Lando with how the puncture then evolved. We like to race hard.”