MAX VERSTAPPEN is “almost impossible” to beat because of his racing genetics, according to Formula One rival Lando Norris.
McLaren star Norris sits second in the drivers’ championship, 25 points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri.
PALando Norris believes Max Verstappen is almost impossible to beat due to his F1 genetics[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialVerstappen is the son of ex-F1 star Jos Verstappen, who was a team-mate of Michael Schumacher[/caption]
However, after consecutive wins in Italy and Azerbaijan, Verstappen has reignited his title hopes going into the Singapore Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion sits 69 points behind Piastri and bullishly gave himself a 50 per cent chance of going on to win the title this season, saying: “Because I do or I don’t.”
And British driver Norris believes the flying Dutchman has a special advantage over everyone else on the grid due to being “born into an F1 seat”.
Norris explained: “He is one of the best drivers ever in Formula One, so if anyone ever comes up to you and says, ‘Yes (they will be as good as Verstappen)’, just tell them to f*** off.
“Any driver in the world can just be confident in saying that kind of thing, but I think it is almost impossible.
“Do I believe on some days I am better? Yes. Do I believe my team-mate on some days is better? Yes. But it is about how good he is at being consistent which is impressive.
“He never goes to 101 per cent, but he will always be at 100 per cent, and when he has a bad day he is at 99 per cent.
“And it is hard to beat someone who was born into an F1 seat.”
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Verstappen, 28, is the son of ex-F1 driver Jos Verstappen, who raced in 106 races and was a team-mate of Michael Schumacher, while his mother, Sophie Kumpen, also enjoyed a successful career in karting.
The flying Dutchman’s F1 career started at the age of 17, and by 18 he became the youngest ever winner of an F1 race by winning the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016.
Norris continued: “If I could go back and choose how to be a better driver, I would also have a mum and dad who were racing drivers, start when you are a baby in the paddock, start karting at whatever age he did and do more testing than everyone else.
“I would be a better driver now if I did all of those things.
“So people have to catch up because he was made to be in the position he is now, but he is also making the most of that and that is why he has four world championships.”
The 25-year-old squandered the chance to make a big dent into Piastri’s championship lead in Baku after only finishing P7 after the Aussie retired on lap 1.
He gave Verstappen a “more than zero” per cent chance to win the title, while he offered a sarcastic reply when asked if he was worried McLaren would prioritise him or Piastri.
Norris said: “I’m very concerned. Yeah. Very worried about it, and scared, frankly.
“So yeah, I was happy you asked that, actually…. Yeah… No.”
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