Lando Norris needs to shed the boy racer image portrayed in the media and man up when he goes toe-to-toe with Max Verstappen. While I’ve been critical of Verstappen’s driving tactics and Red Bull’s approach, I must give credit where it’s due. Verstappen turns up at each Grand Prix and puts in the performances every weekend. It’s not just about consistency, but also about maintaining total focus once he’s on the track.

However, racing against Max is a different challenge. If you test him to the limit, he learns from it and applies the new learnings in subsequent races. For instance, Lando Norris pushed Verstappen off track at the start of the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen learned from this and applied his newfound knowledge during lap 64 of the Austrian Grand Prix. He neither forgets nor forgives such actions.

The fallout from the recent Austrian Grand Prix between Verstappen and Norris exemplifies Verstappen’s aggressive racing style. Norris needs to adapt to and understand Verstappen’s ruthless approach to wheel-to-wheel racing. If he can’t handle it, he may as well settle for second or third place.

Norris says he needs to have a perfect weekend to beat Verstappen. I disagree, Norris simply needs to step up a level as Verstappen did when he went wheel-to-wheel against Lewis Hamilton throughout 2021. Verstappen has indeed reached a higher echelon since then. Like him or loath him, Verstappen gives no quarter and makes victory hard-fought if a win is at stake.

I don’t condone Verstappen’s questionable defensive driving, but that’s who he is. Norris must drive smarter, rather than relying solely on a perfect weekend or hoping for performance upgrades. Norris has a competitive car at his disposal to challenge and defeat Verstappen; he just needs to discover his next level. It’s not just about flawless driving; it goes deeper than having the fastest car.

Advancing to the next level applies to any professional sport; it involves pushing oneself mentally and achieving an almost spiritual state of being.