An image of 2024 World Drivers' Champion and 4-time World Drivers' Champion, Max Verstappen in 16x9. Red Bull content pool

F1 News: Max beat Norris and Leclerc to title with inferior car

(GMM) Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have hit back at Max Verstappen’s claims that he would have won the world championship this year in their cars, and the facts support the fact that the Red Bull was the inferior car.

Editor’s Note: One has to look no further than Sergio Perez’s performance in the Red Bull to see just how bad the car was in 2024.  Perez may not be on Verstappen’s level, but he has won a decent number of F1 race and F1 poles.  Did he all of a sudden forget how to drive? No, the Red Bull car was awful in 2024

After securing his fourth consecutive drivers’ title in Las Vegas, the Red Bull driver insisted: “I would have become world champion earlier in a McLaren, and probably in a Ferrari too.

“I’m not so sure about the Mercedes.”

When asked about the comments in Qatar, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc answered diplomatically: “I think what makes Max very special is also the confidence that he has.

“However, I think it’s very difficult to say something like that not knowing actually what the car is like. I don’t know how the Red Bull is. I don’t know how the McLaren is. And he doesn’t know how the Ferrari is.

“So it’s maybe a bit of a stretch to say something like that.”

As for Norris, who came closest to stopping Verstappen’s charge in 2024, he was more scathing: “Max is really a comedian.

“I mean, he can say whatever he wants, but of course I don’t agree with him. Max is good, but that’s just not true.”

However, both Norris and Verstappen insist their off-track friendship is intact, even though the duo have traded wheel-to-wheel and verbal barbs at times.

“There have been some difficult moments,” Norris said, “but we are still good friends. We had a nice chat after the race in Las Vegas, and I still have a lot of respect for Max and what he has achieved.

“In that respect, everything is good.”

What is clear, though, is that 2025 – the last year of the current regulations – is shaping up as a very close battle between all four top teams.

“Max will still drive for Red Bull next year,” Verstappen’s father told De Coen en Sander Show. “That has been a given for a long time, so we are giving Red Bull that confidence.

“But of course you are very dependent on the team. They just have to build a better car. If he doesn’t get the fifth title, it certainly won’t be Max’s fault.”