Christian Klien thinks Lando Norris was too passive and would have been overtaken by Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix, even without a red flag. Verstappen’s performance in Interlagos showed his dominance as he nears a fourth Formula 1 title.
Starting from 17th place, Verstappen managed to win the race by nearly 20 seconds, while Norris, who began on pole position, ended up in sixth place. This has been a recurring theme for Norris throughout the championship season, where despite securing eight pole positions, he’s only converted two into wins.
Brazilian GP: Norris’s Missed Opportunity
“The race conditions really show which drivers are the best,” said Klien. “Norris was often the fastest until it was time to race. Starting from seventeenth gave Lando a big chance to gain points on Max. But during the race, he just wasn’t aggressive enough.”
Afterwards, Norris mentioned that Verstappen got “lucky” with a red flag that allowed him a free pit stop. However, Klien believes Max would have won regardless: “Max showed he can beat anyone when it’s wet, even with a slower car. His driving was flawless and incredible to watch.” Fans might think that Norris needs to be more assertive if he wants to win championships.
Norris lacked the speed to challenge Max that day. He made an error at Turn 1 right after the start, letting Russell take the lead. For someone aiming for a world title, these mistakes shouldn’t happen. We’ve seen before how Norris struggles to capitalize on starting first.
Klien wrapped up his thoughts by pointing out Norris’s early-race challenges: “It’s about how he positions his car before reaching the first corner. Mistakes happen fast in Formula 1; we know this. But top drivers make them less often. That’s what separates true talent from others.”
What do you think? Should Norris change his approach?
