Lando Norris admits he needs to make changes to reach Max Verstappen's level.

McLaren's Lando Norris, aged 24, acknowledged the necessity for adjustments in his performance to compete on par with his Red Bull counterpart and current Formula 1 leader, Max Verstappen, who is 27 years old.

Currently positioned second in the championship standings, Norris trails Verstappen by 57 points with only five races left in the season. He finished fourth in the recent US Grand Prix, where Verstappen secured third place following two contentious incidents during cornering.

"Max exemplifies the pinnacle of defensive and offensive driving, and I find myself competing against the best in the world, which necessitates that I elevate my performance to match his," Norris stated during an interview with F1 television at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Thursday.

"Regrettably, I am not yet at his level. While it is disappointing to admit, it is likely the reality; however, this serves as a learning experience for me, and I am committed to improving."

In discussions with journalists at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Norris expressed the need to "adapt a bit more" when facing a competitor whose primary objective is to finish ahead of him rather than pursue victory.

"I thoroughly enjoyed our competition, and I respected the duel we had. Nevertheless, he ultimately came out on top, and I must strive to surpass him," Norris remarked.

"There are minor adjustments I need to implement, but I do not require a complete overhaul of my approach."

Norris, who began the race from pole position, lost his lead to Verstappen at the first corner, with both Ferrari drivers also overtaking him to finish in the top two positions.

He subsequently received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while overtaking Verstappen just four laps from the finish, despite the Dutch driver also having gone wide in his defensive maneuver.

McLaren has requested a review of this decision.

"I have not engaged in conversation with Max, as he acted according to his judgment," Norris commented. "I made my own decisions as well.

"I still hold a differing opinion, and as a team, we continue to disagree. I believe that a significant portion of the audience also disagreed with the penalty I received.

"Nonetheless, I will implement the necessary changes, whether that involves being more assertive at times or adopting a more cautious approach, or whatever is required."

SportsLigue