Lewis Hamilton Criticizes Max Verstappen While Assessing Lando Norris’s Chances of Winning the World Title

**Norris Chasing Verstappen in 2024 Drivers’ Championship**

Lewis Hamilton believes it is ‘not impossible’ for Lando Norris to catch up to Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship before the season concludes. Although Norris is currently 76 points behind, the McLaren driver has gained momentum heading into the Belgian Grand Prix.

Following two dominant seasons, Verstappen now faces increased competition as McLaren and Mercedes have narrowed the gap to Red Bull. The triple world champion finished fifth in Hungary after a dispute with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, and a collision with Hamilton. Meanwhile, Norris has achieved four podium finishes in his last five races and secured his first Grand Prix win in Miami earlier this year.

Currently sitting second in the Drivers’ Championship and gradually closing in on Verstappen, Norris has been given a slim chance of overtaking him by Hamilton. “There was a time I was here (in Belgium) when I was 40 or something points behind,” the Mercedes star recalled. “But 70 is a big number when you’re against a car that has probably very, very close to a 100 per cent record. They may have dropped down slightly in one of the races when Max’s engine stopped – Australia. But otherwise they’re a very highly-performing team.

“It is not impossible but it is a very high, huge challenge and task. But absolutely not impossible. (McLaren) have got two very strong drivers that are able to compete against ultimately, currently in the championship, one car that’s really up there doing the point-scoring. So they’ve got something they can work with there, for sure.”

Norris had the opportunity to secure his second career Grand Prix win in Hungary but was required by team orders to relinquish first place to his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. Norris initially resisted the orders but eventually complied three laps from the finish line.

Hamilton criticized Verstappen when discussing the incident and praised Norris for eventually making the right decision by swapping positions, despite ignoring the radio messages for 17 laps. “If that was Max he wouldn’t have let him past,” said the seven-time world champion. “But it’s not really for me to decide.

“If I was in that situation I would do what my team asked me to do, as hard as it is, ultimately because it’s not about you. It’s about 2,000 people that you’re representing and working with and the message it sends. So ultimately I think he made the right decision.”