Max Verstappen makes his feelings known about "It's luck, not talent" remark by Lando Norris
Max Verstappen recently shared his thoughts on Lando Norris' "luck, not talent" comment that he made back in the Brazilian GP. Verstappen explained that Norris said that in the heat of the moment and did not mean it.
The 2024 F1 Brazilian GP was pivotal for the drivers' championship. Lando Norris managed to bag pole position for the race while Verstappen ended up in P17 after a grid penalty for an engine part change. However, the extremely wet conditions during the race turned the tide for both drivers.
Lando Norris lost several places and finished P6, while Max Verstappen and Red Bull raced hard and pitted at the right moments to win the race from P17. Following the race, Lando Norris was interviewed about the race. The McLaren driver said that the strategies made by Red Bull and Verstappen were just by luck and did not have any talent.
“You take a gamble, it’s paid off for them. It’s not talent or, you know, it’s just luck. So, just a bit unlucky,” Norris said.
Max Verstappen recently addressed this comment during an interview with Viaplay after the Dutchman clinched his fourth world championship. He said that he knew his good friend Norris and explained how he blurted out that comment in the heat of the moment.
He added that he should not have had a camera in front of him at that moment and praised the McLaren driver as well.
“They immediately interviewed him after a race where he got a mental blow. Where he could have drawn the championship towards him, It got turned around. I know Lando, at that moment he’s very disappointed with himself and he doesn’t mean it at that moment. And he immediately gets the question. He should have just not had a camera in front of him. And I know Lando's a good person” Verstappen said.
Lando Norris retracts "It's not talent, it's just luck" comment on Max Verstappen at the 2024 FIA Awards Ceremony
While Max Verstappen already understands that Lando Norris commented on the heat of the moment, the McLaren driver himself retracted the comment at the 2024 FIA Awards Ceremony.
After accepting his P2 trophy, he explained how media changes the perspective of what a driver says. He congratulated Verstappen and his performance throughout the season, including in the Brazilian GP, after which Norris' comment was made. He also addressed how tough it was for him to fight for the title.
“First of all, I retract that comment back there, where I said it was all luck, no talent. You know how the media changes things.” Norris said at 2:55:05.
"First of all, congratulations to Max [Verstappen]. What he did this year, what he did in Brazil, of course, was incredible. I’m the first one to acknowledge such a thing when I’m the one going up against him. It was a tough season, of course. I tried to put up my best and give the best battle that I could, but this year was not enough," he added.
Max Verstappen finished the season with 437 points, while Lando Norris finished second with 374 points.