Why McLaren boss Zak Brown says his Formula 1 driver Lando Norris is a “world champion” and what sets Norris apart from Max Verstappen
Lando Norris won the 2024 Miami Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen. But can Norris do it more often? “I think Lando can beat Max in a direct duel. “
What Brown means by that: If Norris and Verstappen were to compete against each other with equivalent equipment or even in the same team, Norris would have nothing to hide. “We would probably see a great duel,” says Brown. “But I fear that many races would end in tears, for one or both of them!”
Because, like Verstappen, Norris also has a lot of “pure talent” and Brown states that he has “never met anyone who is faster than Lando. I’m sure Max is just as fast. And I’m sure someone will disagree with me. But we won’t know until they’re in the same car.”
And because he has only ever experienced Norris in one of his Formula 1 cars, he can only judge Norris. But that gives him a lot of pleasure, because “from what I’ve seen of Lando so far, there is no faster racing driver than him,” says Brown. Norris’ speed is “unbelievable” and his racing “is second to none”, the McLaren boss continues.
Brown: Piastri drives at a similar level to Norris
From his point of view, it is particularly pleasing and “exciting” that Oscar Piastri is playing in a similar league. “Oscar can keep up with Lando,” says Brown. “If he gets more experience, he will certainly keep up with him even more often.”
So far in the 2024 season, however, Norris clearly has Piastri under control: the McLaren team duel is 5:1 in favor of Norris in both qualifying and the race. In their first year together as stablemates, Norris beat Piastri 15:7 in qualifying and 17:5 in the race
Why Norris can continue to flourish in Formula 1
Now, however, Norris has scored his first Grand Prix victory. And Brown firmly believes that this first victory will give him an additional boost: “Something happens when a driver achieves his first victory. Then you’ve done it. That’s a relief. You don’t try so hard anymore, which can sometimes be counterproductive,” says Brown.
But above all, the McLaren boss believes that the victory in Miami showed Norris that he could have real prospects at McLaren. “Lando has already seen what a turnaround we have achieved in 2023. He believes in Andrea Stella and the entire team. McLaren is his family.”
“But more importantly: I think he has the confidence that we can put a winning car in front of him, just like in Miami. That has only increased his confidence,” says Brown, who only signed a contract extension with Norris in spring 2024.
Brown still has big plans for Norris: “For us, it’s now about allowing a driver to mature even further who is already world championship-caliber. “
