Norris: 'Nothing to Lose' as He Aims to Narrow the Gap on Verstappen in Singapore GP*
SINGAPORE, Sept 20 — Lando Norris expressed confidence yesterday, stating he has "nothing to lose" as he sets his sights on closing the Formula One world title gap with Max Verstappen at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver, who impressively moved from 15th to fourth place in last week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, is determined to challenge Red Bull's reigning champion, Verstappen, who currently leads by 59 points with seven races and three sprints remaining—offering a potential 207 points up for grabs.
Norris acknowledged that while McLaren has emerged as the new favorite for the team championship, leading Red Bull by 20 points, the drivers' title still largely belongs to Verstappen. "It’s still for him to lose, not for me," Norris stated, emphasizing his underdog status.
Despite dominating the early season with seven wins out of ten, Verstappen has faced challenges recently, with other teams like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes securing victories. Norris pointed out, "Red Bull were still dominant," suggesting they could quickly regain their edge.
Verstappen reflected on his struggles in Baku, admitting that his car setup for qualifying was off, affecting his race performance. He noted, "You start in the back of the top group and the balance was, of course, not there."
Looking ahead to the Marina Bay Circuit, history indicates it may not favor Verstappen; last year, it was the only race Red Bull did not win. The tight street circuit, known for its unpredictability due to tropical storms and safety cars, has seen Verstappen yet to clinch a victory there.
Sergio Perez, who won in Singapore in 2022, has shown strong performance, but Norris clarified that Verstappen's recent challenges are not indicative of Red Bull's overall strength.
Norris's teammate, Oscar Piastri, celebrated his second win of the season in Baku, and Verstappen conceded that McLaren has the upper hand right now. "At the moment they are very strong as a team," he said, emphasizing the need for Red Bull to improve their performance to compete effectively.
