Lando Norris: On a par with Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen?

The GP stars faced a particularly tough challenge at the latest Formula 1 showdown. Not only did they have to complete a race weekend at the Madrid circuit for the very first time. The circuit at the IFEMA exhibition centre on the outskirts of the Spanish capital is also a real challenge: it features high-risk sections, curved braking zones and several blind corners.

The GP drivers were quick to agree: it’s no easy task to put in a good lap on this street circuit. Lando Norris proved on qualifying Saturday that it is indeed possible to produce a strong lap. At the crucial moment, he managed an almost perfect lap, for which he was rewarded with pole position.

On a par with Max Verstappen

In the race, he did everything right – yet still only finished third behind winner Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen. Nevertheless, for former GP driver Johnny Herbert, one thing is certain: his compatriot is driving on a par with the four-time champion.

In an interview with ‘CasinoHawks’, the 62-year-old Briton praised the McLaren star’s performance in the highest terms: ‘The big factor for me is the way Lando drives. He isn’t getting the recognition he deserves for his brilliant performance. I think Lando is currently getting the most out of this car. He has now reached Max’s level. I’m truly convinced that they are now competing on equal terms. He’s been lacking the all-round performance up to now, and this year we’ve seen that he can deliver it.”

A tough task for Oscar Piastri

When it comes to Norris’s McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, Herbert strikes a more critical note: “Oscar is in the same boat as George Russell. I think he simply has to try and improve his situation. Last year he still had that ‘wow’ factor. But he lost that towards the end of the season.”

Topic of the week

Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring: track – hit or miss?

The people of Madrid had set their sights high for their city’s first Formula 1 World Championship race since 1981. But have the high expectations for the new Madring mixed-circuit track really been met?

Read More

TV Program

Live

Baku: 1. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

24.09.2026 - 10:15

And he warns: the Australian has to hold his own against a team-mate who has complete confidence in himself and his abilities. “That just makes it a bit harder for Oscar. He needs to achieve something similar, but that’s very, very tricky when Lando is one step ahead of him. The only person who can manage that, therefore, is Oscar himself. He needs to work very hard and figure out what’s going wrong, because Lando seems to be in control of the direction the team is taking at the moment.”