Norris could prove Hakkinen right at Brazil GP as Verstappen vulnerable

05 November 2023 , 09:59

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Norris could prove Hakkinen right at Brazil GP as Verstappen vulnerable

McLaren star Lando Norris is feeling confident ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, having been told he is one of only two drivers who could "stop Max Verstappen".

Norris was beaten by Verstappen in the sprint race on Saturday, but was delighted to have finished second having not been "expecting to be at all close" to the reigning world champion.

Speaking after the sprint, Norris said McLaren went into the race weekend without any high hopes at all because of their history in Sao Paulo. "There were positives, because this definitely wasn't a circuit we were expecting to be at all close to the Red Bull," he said.

"If you look at our data from last year and where we were good and bad, this definitely wasn't up there with one of the good ones. We weren't expecting it to be a necessarily very good one.

"Sometimes we're good in qualifying and then quite poor in the race, but today we were good comparing to everyone – except Max." And former world champion Mika Hakkinen will have been impressed by Norris, having tipped him and Lewis Hamilton to challenge Verstappen for victory in the Grand Prix.

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It will be a tough challenge though, with Verstappen on pole and Hamilton and Norris set to start fifth and sixth respectively. "In my opinion there are two drivers who can stop Max Verstappen from winning the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend," Hakkinen wrote in a column for Unibet.

Lando Norris is feeling confident (Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

"Max is going for win number 17 this season but the way Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are driving at the moment I think it's possible they could cause problems for Red Bull. I thought both of them drove brilliantly in Mexico, there is a real fire in their driving, and if they can continue that momentum into Interlagos anything can happen.

"I thought Lando Norris's drive in Mexico was one of his very best. After the problem in qualifying he really focused on driving through the field and chasing down a great result. You could tell by watching him that he has total confidence in the car and knows how to get the lap time from it very consistently.

"He knows Brazil, while it's the first time visiting for team mate Oscar Piastri, but the McLarens are likely to be in the mix for the top 6 in qualifying. From there the podium finishes can open up."

Matthew Cooper