Lando Norris has insisted he remains in the Formula One world championship fight with Max Verstappen, despite team orders denying him victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver believes his team is well placed to take the competition to the wire, even after a controversial race in Budapest where he was asked to hand the lead back to teammate Oscar Piastri.
Piastri took his debut F1 win after McLaren's team orders saw Norris, on fresher tyres, initially take the lead. Norris resisted calls to give the place back until three laps from the end, costing him seven points against Verstappen, who now leads by 76 points with 11 races remaining. 'It's still on,' Norris said. 'I know it's a big stretch, but I'm not going to say no to the challenge.'
Norris won his first race at the Miami GP in May, and McLaren have since brought their car on with finesse. After a one-two in Budapest, where Verstappen finished fifth after a late crash with Lewis Hamilton, McLaren appears to have the quickest car on the grid. Norris believes there is more to come, especially after the summer break.
Team principal Andrea Stella defended Norris's initial refusal to obey team orders, saying: 'He's a race driver. Mention me a race driver who would have not done the same thing.' Stella also made clear that the team's principles are discussed before each race, with the interests of the team coming first.
