Lando Norris has retracted a controversial remark he made about Max Verstappen's Brazilian Grand Prix performance, which many had interpreted as dismissive of the Red Bull driver's skill.
Verstappen's wet-weather drive in Brazil was widely praised as one of the greatest in Formula 1 history, but Norris initially attributed the victory to fortune rather than talent.
"It shouldn't have been red flagged," Norris said at the time. "They took a gamble and it paid off for them. It's not talent, it's just luck."
The comments were viewed by many as unsportsmanlike.
Speaking after collecting his runner-up trophy at the FIA prize-giving ceremony in Rwanda, Norris sought to clarify and revise his earlier statement.
"First of all," Norris said, "I retract that comment back there—where I said it was all luck, no talent.
"What Max did this year, what he did in Brazil, of course, was incredible. I'm the first one to acknowledge such a thing when I'm the one going up against him."
Norris went on to praise Verstappen's achievements and reflect on his own progress in 2024.
"Sometimes I'm happy even to finish second to Max, because I think it's an achievement to do a lot better than that," the McLaren driver admitted. "A lot of achievements for myself this year, a lot of improvements from myself—but I also know that I need to step it up and do more than I did this year."
