Martin Brundle has accused Lando Norris of “lacking a killer instinct” after a crushing blow to his 2024 Drivers’ Championship hopes in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen produced an incredible drive from 17th on the grid to end a 10-race win drought on a rain-hit Interlagos Circuit.
Norris enjoyed contrasting fortunes in qualifying earlier in the day, clinching pole position to create a monumental opportunity to further close Verstappen’s 44-point lead.
However, after flopping to a sixth-place finish, the McLaren driver now finds himself trailing by 62 points with just 86 left to fight for.
Norris instantly surrendered his lead after Mercedes’ George Russell – who started in P2 – got off to a better start.
It was the sixth time in seven races this season that Norris has failed to retain his lead from pole after the first lap.
The 24-year-old lost more time by pitting for tyres shortly before a red flag and then making costly errors at two subsequent restarts.
His poor record after topping the timesheet in qualifying isn’t the only thing he must improve to become capable of winning a world championship, according to Brundle.
“It’s [about improving] everything at the level he’s at,” the Sky Sports F1 pundit explained on Monday.
“He’s had some amazing victories and not least in Zandvoort and Singapore where he just ran off and hid, a little bit like Max [on Sunday].
“But he lacks the experience of challenging for a world championship and I think that’s a whole new set of challenges and rules – and that’s what he will learn from this year.
“Sometimes you wonder if he lacks the killer instinct up against Max, who we know can be pretty brutal in combat.
“But I think Lando will learn a lot from this season, and Max winning seven of the first 10 races pretty much put him out of reach really.”
Following the events in Sao Paolo, Verstappen is on the brink of his fourth consecutive world title.
The Dutchman could be confirmed as the world champion with two races to spare if things go his way again in the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 24.
Verstappen will be out of touch with Norris if the Brit fails to outscore him by three points or more on the kaleidoscopic streets of Nevada.
All eyes would then firmly be set on a thrilling three-way battle in the constructors’ standings between McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.
