WATCH: Lando Norris takes back his heated remark against Max Verstappen during the FIA awards ceremony

At the 2024 FIA prize-giving ceremony, McLaren driver Lando Norris took back an unpopular remark he made about rival Max Verstappen following the Brazilian Grand Prix. As he accepted the award for second place for his performance this year, Norris took a minute to take back his claim that Verstappen's victory in Brazil was more due to luck than skill. 

The 2024 FIA Awards just ended, officially ending a controversial season in which McLaren's Lando Norris challenged the once-dominant Max Verstappen for the championship. Even if Verstappen did win the World Championship for the fourth time in a row in 2024, an impressive feat in and of itself, Norris was the only driver who could challenge the Dutch racer.

However, Norris's precise remarks following Verstappen's victory in the rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix demonstrate that the more intense the title fight, the more intense the emotions. An important turning point in the 2024 tournament was Brazil. Lando Norris, the pole sitter, fell to sixth place in the running order there, and Verstappen won from 17th place.

The statement regarding Verstappen's luck in Brazil was part of a dramatic summary of the 2024 season that was broadcast during the FIA Gala. When Norris was brought on stage to accept his trophy for second place, he chose to disregard the first question concerning his thoughts on the season in order to respond to the remarks made during the Brazil Grand Prix.

Lando Norris congratulated McLaren for winning first championship in 26 years

"First of all, I retract that comment back there, where I said it was all luck, no talent," Lando Norris said, gesturing at the video screen. "You know how the media changes things." Rather than implying that Verstappen was being made fun of, Norris seems to have meant that Red Bull was just able to take advantage of a bad circumstance. 

Lando Norris🗣 “I retract the comment where I said it was all luck and no talent. You know how the media changes things.”pic.twitter.com/aW4lxHkWo8

— Marc🏎 (@433_marc) December 14, 2024

He continued by congratulating McLaren, his team, on winning its first championship in 26 years. The squad was given its WCC, and he was told to stay on stage. The World Constructors' Championship was won, and Verstappen was asked to go on stage to accept his own trophy. He gave a more general complement to the rest of the field rather than specifically mentioning Norris.