Sprint Race winner Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing (right) and third place finisher Lando Norris of McLaren (left) laugh after the Sprint Race at the F1 US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-Imagn Images
MEXICO CITY–McLaren’s Lando Norris said he needed to make some changes to be able to fight at the same level as Red Bull rival and F1 leader Max Verstappen.
The Briton, second in the standings but now 57 points behind with five rounds remaining, finished fourth in last weekend’s U.S. Grand Prix with Verstappen third after two controversial corner clashes.
“Max is the best in the world in that style of defense and attack, and I’m going up against the best in the world so therefore I need to be at his level,” he told F1 television at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Thursday.
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“And I’m not quite at his level. Which is a shame to say but is probably the truth, but it’s experience for me and I can learn and get better.”
Speaking to reporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the Briton said he needed to “adapt a little bit more” against a rival whose only task was to finish ahead of him rather than go for the win.
“I had a lot of fun, and I respected our battle that we had. But yeah, he still ended up on top, and I need to be beating him,” added Norris.
“So there are some little things I need to change, but I don’t need to change my whole approach.”
READ: F1: Lando Norris delighted after beating Verstappen on US GP pole
Norris, who started in pole position, lost out to Verstappen at the first corner while both Ferraris also went past, finishing one-two.
The Briton then collected a five second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage while passing Verstappen four laps from the end, although the Dutch driver also went wide in defending.
McLaren has sought a right of review on that.
“I have not spoken to Max at all, because he did what I guess he thought was right,” said Norris. “I did what I thought was right.
“I still disagree, and I think as a team we still disagree. I think the majority of people who were watching disagreed with the penalty that I got.
“But I’ll make the changes that I need to make, whether it’s being more aggressive at times or less aggressive, or whatever.”