US Grand Prix: Lando Norris says 2024 a success even if he does not win title
Norris said: “If I finish second it’s because Red Bull and Max have done a better job.
“We started (the season) a long way behind. Everyone thought Max was going to have an easy win.
“For that not to be the case after the gap they had after race one, it’s still a year to be proud of.
“But as the season goes on, you always reevaluate what are our expectations and now we are a top team and fighting for drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
“I’ve been doing a good job. I have been happy with the job I have been doing and what we are doing as a team and confident if we keep our heads down and keep pushing, we can close the gap.
“It’s not easy, we need more than me first and Max second but I can’t change that, just keep my head down and focus on myself.”
Verstappen has won seven races this season to Norris’ three but has not taken the chequered flag first since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Speaking in Austin on Thursday, the Dutchman said: “It’s 50-50 – yes or no. There is a lot that can go well or go wrong in these six races, plus sprint races as well. Nothing is guaranteed from both sides. I prefer not to think too much and live weekend to weekend. From now on, every weekend is crucial.”
Norris said McLaren’s belief changed after he took his maiden F1 victory in Miami in early May, but he acknowledged that he and the team had made some mistakes that had stopped them narrowing the gap quicker.
“(There are) races we kind of regret not winning, probably Silverstone being the main one that didn’t go our way when it should have done,” he said. “And we look back on that with a bit of regret that we didn’t end up in better positions than we did.
“From Silverstone there was more focus from everyone, including the mechanics and engineers, because it became more and more real that we were in a position we had worked very hard to be in.
“I’m loving it… there is more pressure and a few more nerves but I am still very relaxed and chilled about it.”
