11/04/2025 09:40
Lando Norris has invited Max Verstappen to test McLaren's F1 car
and declared he can't wait to see the "disappointment" on
Verstappen's face, after a jibe from the Red Bull driver. After
winning in Japan last time out against the odds, Verstappen
declared that if he had been driving the MCL39 of Norris and Oscar
Piastri that he wouldn't have been "seen", such is the perceived
speed of the McLaren. Heading to round four in Bahrain, Norris is
a single point clear of Verstappen in the drivers' championship,
with the Dutchman winning in Sakhir for the past three seasons.
However, Norris has disabused Verstappen of the idea that the MCL39
is a far superior package to the currently-troubled RB21. "I don't
mind, he can say what he wants," Norris told media in Bahrain. "I
don't care, honestly. Everyone can say what they want and believe
what they want. "I believe both Oscar and myself are good drivers.
He is maybe better at some things but he is not better in every
area. "I have a lot of respect for Max but I also know some things
are not true, he can come and test our car any day that he wants
and I'll be excited to see the disappointment on his face after he
gets out." Article continues below. Norris on McLaren vs Red Bull
Remarkably, McLaren has never won the Bahrain GP, and took its last
podium with third-place for Lewis Hamilton in 2010, and has
struggled at the Sakhir track in previous seasons. Norris did
acknowledge that the McLaren package is a "quick" car as he also
called on the team to improve its performance in "certain areas."
Despite the speed in his own package, Norris felt Red Bull was
still performing well in overcoming the self-diagnosed problems the
team claims to be facing. "It's been a good start, I'm still
leading. Could things have been slightly better, yes, but they're
not," he added. "Max and Red Bull have done a good job with a car
that they say they've been struggling with. But for the same case
we know our struggles, we know how tricky our car is to drive.
"It's quick, and we acknowledge all of these things and the stuff
people say, but we've also made some mistakes and we know we have
to improve in certain areas."
