Max Verstappen expects Lando Norris’s McLaren to be his biggest rival at Suzuka GP

Max Verstappen is impressed by McLaren's massive progress so far this season.

Max Verstappen expects Lando Norris’s McLaren to be his biggest rival at Suzuka GP

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris (Via IMAGO)

Lando Norris returned to the Podium at the Singapore GP with an impressive defensive display against the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. He teamed up with race winner Carlos Sainz in the final laps and determined the race outcome. Max Verstappen, the defending champion, believes the McLaren driver will be his biggest challenge at the Japanese GP this Sunday.

The 2023 F1 season has been a rollercoaster for McLaren. The team had a slow start, with Norris and Oscar Piastri struggling to score points. However, They have continuously introduced upgrades to McL60, and since the Austrian GP upgrade, they have been solid, scoring multiple podiums and points. They are currently fifth in the Constructors’ Championship and have set P2 as their target for the end of the season.

YouTube video

In light of the previous weekend, Max Verstappen acknowledged that McLaren can be seen as a tough competitor at the Japanese GP. Verstappen praised McLaren’s commendable progress throughout the year, emphasizing their high potential on the track of Suzuka.

FS Video

“What they’ve done this year at McLaren is impressive, seeing where they started and “Where are they now? I’m sure they will be strong, but I hope to be ahead of them,” said Max Verstappen during the FIA Press conference (H&T: Soymotor) ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Discover: Max Verstappen claims those who ‘can’t appreciate’ his F1 dominance are FAKE fans

Max Verstappen claims that Red Bull is in no hurry to understand what went wrong in Singapore

At the Singapore GP, Max Verstappen encountered his toughest races in 2023. Despite the setback, Verstappen highlighted that there’s no rush within Red Bull to understand the events of the Singapore Grand Prix. He underlines that while it wasn’t their strongest weekend, the crucial focus is on thorough analysis and taking things one step at a time.

Max and Sergio
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez (credits: PlanetF1)

“Singapore was not our best weekend, and the important thing is to analyze everything well, in addition to going step by step. We will understand what happened there, but it’s not that there is much of a rush either,” said Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen recognized that during the Singapore GP, their race pace didn’t match Ferrari’s, and they could not harness their potential fully. Despite their difficulties in Singapore, Verstappen conveyed his optimism regarding Red Bull’s performance in the upcoming Suzuka GP in Japan. “I think we will be quick in Suzuka,” said Max Verstappen.

In case you missed it: