Lando Norris says Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri symbolize the identical risk to his Components 1 world championship lead as he believes the pair are “just as good” as one another.
The 26-year-old Brit is in prime place to assert his maiden drivers’ title as he holds a 24-point lead over each his McLaren team-mate Piastri and Crimson Bull’s four-time reigning champion Verstappen with two rounds remaining.
Talking on Thursday forward of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, Norris dismissed the suggestion that Verstappen’s pedigree and powerful type make the Dutchman a much bigger risk than Piastri, who led the championship by 34 factors earlier than a poor run of outcomes.
Norris stated: “I view them each the identical. They’re each simply pretty much as good as each other. I do know what Max is able to, and Oscar is able to precisely the identical as what Max can do.
“Each have professionals and cons. Max being in a unique staff and Oscar additionally being within the champions’ staff.
“Each driver wants to fight for their own thing and prove that they’re the best. They’re both competitive, they’re both very strong, they’re both incredible drivers and I’m excited to give them a good fight on track.”
‘We have handled Max as a risk the entire yr’
Verstappen gave the impression to be out of the title race after back-to-back wins for Norris left him 49 factors adrift with three rounds remaining, however the Dutchman was catapulted again into competition when each McLarens had been disqualified after he gained final weekend in Las Vegas.
Regardless of the sudden shift, Norris insists that Verstappen being nearer to the lead will not alter his method.
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Watch the ultimate lap of the Las Vegas Grand Prix as Max Verstappen claimed the win to maintain his title hopes alive
“We’ve treated him as a threat the whole year,” Norris stated.
“Even when he was a few more points behind, every briefing we had before every race, we treated him as a threat because we know what he’s capable of, we know what Red Bull are capable of.
“Due to this fact, nothing adjustments now as a result of he is nonetheless the risk he is at all times been via the entire yr.”
Norris additionally insisted that he would not really feel any elevated stress given the 24-point cushion he took into Las Vegas stays intact going into the ultimate two rounds.
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Sky Sports activities’ Anthony Davidson breaks down one of the best probabilities of successful the subsequent race within the calendar – the Qatar Grand Prix
He added: “My gap in the lead is the same. Nothing needs to change. We were still quick last weekend. We would have been even quicker without the issues, so no.
“We all know Crimson Bull have simply been fast recently, so we count on them to be fast right here this weekend and subsequent weekend, however there’s nothing that should change from anybody’s aspect.”
Piastri not willing to help Norris after ‘brief discussion’
Piastri reiterated the team’s stance that they will not prioritise either driver’s title hopes until the other is mathematically out of the contest.
The Australian was asked whether there had been any internal discussions about him helping Norris to ensure Verstappen can’t deny McLaren adding the drivers’ title to the constructors’ crown they sealed in Singapore.
He replied: “We have had a really transient dialogue on it and the reply isn’t any.
“I’m still equal on points with Max and got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way, so that’s how we’ll play it.”
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Oscar Piastri reveals the reason for their double DSQ in Vegas and says he stays optimistic he might nonetheless win the World Championship
Piastri, who has failed to complete on the rostrum in six successive races, admits he has left himself with solely an “outside shot” at successful a maiden title.
“There’s still a chance,” he stated. “It’s played out that way a couple of times before, so I know it’s not impossible.
“Clearly, I additionally know that it’s kind of of an out of doors shot. Even when I’ve an ideal closing two weekends, I can not simply depend on that. I would like different issues to go my approach, and I am very conscious of that.
“For me, I’m just going to try to have the best weekends I can, which I try to do every weekend, and see what happens to everyone else.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Qatar GP schedule
Thursday November 27
3pm: Drivers’ Press Convention
6pm: Paddock Uncut
Friday November 28
11.05am: F2 Follow
1pm: Qatar GP Follow (session begins at 1.30pm)*
3.30pm: Group Bosses’ Press Convention
4.05pm: F2 Qualifying*
4.50pm: Qatar GP Dash Qualifying (session begins at 5.30pm)*
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Qatar Grand Prix
Saturday November 29
1pm: Qatar GP Dash build-up*
2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT*
3.30pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book*
4.15pm: F2 Dash
5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up
6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday November 30
11.55am: F2 Characteristic
2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up
4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX
6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP response
7pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally on Sky Sports activities Predominant Occasion
Components 1’s season-ending triple header continues with the Qatar Grand Prix Dash weekend reside on Sky Sports activities F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
