Norris Relishes Chance to Battle Verstappen for Spanish GP Win
Lando Norris is relishing the long-awaited chance to have a race-long battle with Max Verstappen for a Formula 1 win at the Spanish Grand Prix today. After a thrilling qualifying session, Norris nailed the “perfect” lap to take provisional pole from Verstappen by a mere 0.020 seconds, securing his first front-row start since McLaren became a certified challenger at the top of the Formula 1 standings.
As he aims to take his second career win, Norris is aware that he’ll have to contend with Verstappen’s Red Bull lurking large in his mirrors. However, the Briton is “excited” to have the rare opportunity to fight the reigning champion. When asked whether he was relishing a potential duel with Verstappen, Norris replied, “> I mean, I hope not. I hope I can have just a good start and kind of control it from there. But I’m sure that I’ll race, so I’m going to be under pressure and going to have to make those kind of calls. Yeah, no, I mean, I look forward to it.”
Norris added, “> I look forward to racing against anyone. Probably Max is the guy on the track that I’ve raced the least, just because he’s always been too far ahead. But yeah, happy to now kind of be there and I’m sure whether I’m first or second tomorrow coming out of Turn 1, it’s going to be a fight until pretty much the end of the race. So I’m excited. I look forward to it. I’ve not had many opportunities to do so.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, has suggested that he will be angling to prioritize “the long-game” in the duel with Norris, as he suspects tyre management will prove decisive. “> I would like to win tomorrow, naturally,” he said. “I think it’s still a bit unknown where we are, like all of us, in terms of pure pace in the long runs. I’m hoping, of course, it’s going to be all very close, like it has been in the last few races. And I think, yeah, with the high deg around here as well, you need to really look after your tyres.”
The stage is set for an epic battle at the Spanish Grand Prix, with Norris and Verstappen sharing the front row and less than four-tenths covering the top six drivers on the times. Will Norris be able to hold off the reigning champion and secure his second career win, or will Verstappen’s Red Bull prove too strong? The Formula 1 world will be tuning in today to find out.
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