Former 3x F1 race winner pinpoints one change Lando Norris has to make in battle against Max Verstappen

Lando Norris needs to stand up to Max Verstappen more often than he did in 2024, according to F1 race winner Johnny Herbert. The season was the first time in his career that Norris was fighting for wins consistently and had a car capable of fighting for the title.

Throughout the year, Norris put together a lot of sublime race weekends that helped McLaren win the constructors championship. However, his drivers' championship battle with Verstappen left a lot to be desired.

By the time the season was done, it was clear that Norris left something on the table, and that hurt his overall chances. When questioned about what the McLaren driver needs to do differently, Herbert pinpointed that it all begins with the driver standing up to Verstappen more often. He told Coin Poker:

"Lando Norris needs to stand up to Max Verstappen more often. He has been very open that maybe he hasn’t brought his A-game this year. From what I am hearing, he has accepted that this is what he now has to do, to change."

It was apparent that neither Lando Norris nor McLaren were fully prepared to run a title campaign against Max Verstappen. Even in their wheel-to-wheel battles, the reigning champion had the measure of the British driver.

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Max Verstappen could be involved in a "scrappy" title battle

There is a distinct possibility of four different teams capable enough of fighting for the wins consistently in 2025. If that happens, multiple drivers could be in contention for the title, something that hasn't happened in a while in F1.

Talking about the prospects of the 2025 season, Johnny Herbert felt that we could see Max Verstappen in a "scrappy" title battle. He said (via Coin Poker):

"This is a really good moment where many drivers are thinking the same as Max Verstappen has done. It is going to be massively interesting to see who comes out on the top next year. It might well be scrappy next year but that’s what you want in Formula 1, some sharp elbows, allied to common sense. Max loads pressure on everyone."

Verstappen is now a four-time world champion and has been tenaciously consistent when it comes to getting the best results with the car. The upcoming 2025 F1 season could be his toughest title battle yet as he tries to match Juan Manuel Fangio's record of five consecutive drivers' titles.