Norris’ Mental ‘Weakness’ Gives Verstappen The Edge, Says Marko
Red Bull advisor and mentor to Max Verstappen, Dr. Helmut Marko, believes mental strength could be the decisive factor in the 2024 Formula 1 championship, giving Verstappen the edge over Lando Norris. According to Marko, Verstappen’s mental resilience sets him apart from his rivals, particularly McLaren’s Norris, who has openly admitted to pre-race nerves.
Marko, speaking to *motorsport-magazin.com*, pointed out that while Norris is talented, he has certain weaknesses, particularly during race starts. Additionally, he revealed that Norris follows specific rituals on race day to cope with anxiety, which could impact his performance. Norris, 24, has admitted to struggling with pre-race nerves, often feeling too anxious to eat or drink before a race.
Red Bull, known for its playful mind games, even joked about offering Norris a snack to calm his nerves. “Back in Barcelona, with their burned-out kitchen, we offered that to McLaren, but it was not accepted,” Marko said with a grin.
Despite a narrowing 52-point lead in the championship and recent car performance issues, Marko remains confident that Verstappen is the favorite to clinch his fourth consecutive drivers’ world championship. “He is the best, the fastest, and in terms of mental strength, the safest,” Marko asserted.
He also highlighted McLaren’s need for more experience in converting strong car performance into consistent results. “McLaren has made a relatively large number of mistakes, both in terms of strategy and operations,” Marko noted, comparing their current situation to Red Bull’s struggles in 2009, when they lost the title despite having a faster car in the second half of the season.
While Marko emphasizes Verstappen’s mental edge, former F1 driver Timo Glock believes that the pressure may now be shifting onto Verstappen, as the reigning champion battles both on-track rivals and potential team performance issues in the crucial stages of the season.
As the championship battle heats up, Verstappen’s mental strength could prove to be the defining factor in the race for the 2024 title.
