'He should do comedy' - Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc lambasts Max Verstappen's bold claim

Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc have lambasted Max Verstappen's claim that he could have clinched the 2024 Formula 1 world championship even earlier had he been racing for McLaren or Ferrari instead of Red Bull. Verstappen, who secured his fourth consecutive title in Las Vegas, attributed his dominance not solely to Red Bull's car but to his skill, suggesting other dominating cars could have given him an even earlier triumph.

The Dutchman stated he hadn't enjoyed the fastest car for “70% of the season” and speculated that driving McLaren’s upgraded MCL38 or even Ferrari’s SF-24 could have accelerated his title win. Norris, however, found the assertion laughable. "He should start doing comedy," Norris quipped ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix. "He can say whatever he wants, but I completely disagree. He’s good, but that’s just not true."

Charles Leclerc echoed similar scepticism, albeit with a more measured tone. When Verstappen’s claim was brought up during the pre-event press conference, Leclerc acknowledged Verstappen’s exceptional driving skills but questioned his assertion. "He’s a very special driver, and his confidence is part of what makes him great," Leclerc said. "However, I think it’s very difficult to say something like that without actually knowing how the other cars perform."

‘A stretch’, Leclerc slams Verstappen

Leclerc went on to call Verstappen’s comments “a stretch,” noting the inherent uncertainties of comparing cars without firsthand experience. "Whether he would have made it or not with McLaren or Ferrari, who can say? He doesn’t know how our car is, and we don’t know how Red Bull’s struggles feel."

Both drivers remain focused on the upcoming challenge in Qatar, where their teams—McLaren and Ferrari—are locked in a tight battle for the constructors’ championship. McLaren currently holds a slim 24-point lead over Ferrari, with Red Bull trailing in third.

While Verstappen’s bravado is nothing new, the pushback from his closest rivals highlights the fierce competition and mutual respect in the F1 paddock. With two races and a sprint left, the drivers’ and constructors’ standings remain a heated affair, promising a thrilling conclusion to the season.