The Fort Worth Press - Hamilton says Norris can win Formula One title in 'down to wire' chase

USD -
AED 3.67299
AFN 66.745897
ALL 90.239571
AMD 385.993732
ANG 1.797541
AOA 911.506258
ARS 990.250002
AUD 1.51525
AWG 1.8025
AZN 1.70424
BAM 1.79488
BBD 2.013848
BDT 119.184513
BGN 1.79536
BHD 0.376857
BIF 2897.889699
BMD 1
BND 1.32051
BOB 6.916868
BRL 5.700601
BSD 0.99738
BTN 83.885266
BWP 13.333578
BYN 3.264061
BYR 19600
BZD 2.010453
CAD 1.390065
CDF 2887.504121
CHF 0.86254
CLF 0.034707
CLP 957.710113
CNY 7.092703
CNH 7.119295
COP 4411
CRC 511.446283
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 101.192579
CZK 23.1751
DJF 177.606674
DKK 6.83709
DOP 60.018997
DZD 133.081991
EGP 49.086009
ERN 15
ETB 119.782959
EUR 0.916698
FJD 2.245205
FKP 0.765169
GBP 0.770703
GEL 2.735008
GGP 0.765169
GHS 16.257439
GIP 0.765169
GMD 71.495865
GNF 8601.805159
GTQ 7.706109
GYD 208.570603
HKD 7.77265
HNL 25.141903
HRK 6.88903
HTG 131.252552
HUF 373.959839
IDR 15761.5
ILS 3.74878
IMP 0.765169
INR 84.109096
IQD 1306.560333
IRR 42092.499085
ISK 136.494526
JEP 0.765169
JMD 158.095911
JOD 0.709198
JPY 151.643017
KES 128.660031
KGS 85.795316
KHR 4053.576591
KMF 453.849431
KPW 899.999774
KRW 1373.979963
KWD 0.30634
KYD 0.831181
KZT 487.769065
LAK 21890.414856
LBP 89315.333752
LKR 292.184223
LRD 191.50098
LSL 17.554272
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.806108
MAD 9.802002
MDL 17.853357
MGA 4597.785538
MKD 56.447137
MMK 3247.960992
MNT 3398.000028
MOP 7.989593
MRU 39.597854
MUR 45.830161
MVR 15.410012
MWK 1729.446476
MXN 20.05456
MYR 4.372503
MZN 63.909774
NAD 17.554272
NGN 1641.109694
NIO 36.699689
NOK 10.94673
NPR 134.216793
NZD 1.669355
OMR 0.385023
PAB 0.997472
PEN 3.764586
PGK 3.997596
PHP 58.456497
PKR 276.972436
PLN 3.9804
PYG 7879.558209
QAR 3.635921
RON 4.560501
RSD 107.297999
RUB 98.759981
RWF 1363.734393
SAR 3.756049
SBD 8.319934
SCR 14.543638
SDG 601.437077
SEK 10.666905
SGD 1.316105
SHP 0.765169
SLE 22.749749
SLL 20969.496802
SOS 569.996926
SRD 34.614998
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.726615
SYP 2512.530268
SZL 17.549591
THB 33.686506
TJS 10.602163
TMT 3.5
TND 3.088409
TOP 2.342099
TRY 34.344525
TTD 6.760856
TWD 31.8725
TZS 2691.480973
UAH 41.222038
UGX 3651.614502
UYU 41.306652
UZS 12761.837462
VEF 3622552.534434
VES 43.434016
VND 25320
VUV 118.722039
WST 2.801184
XAF 601.98595
XAG 0.029645
XAU 0.000367
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.749687
XOF 601.98595
XPF 109.447486
YER 250.349946
ZAR 17.52655
ZMK 9001.202057
ZMW 26.75434
ZWL 321.999592
  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    61

    0%

  • RELX

    0.0500

    47.13

    +0.11%

  • NGG

    0.7600

    65.02

    +1.17%

  • BTI

    0.2950

    35.365

    +0.83%

  • GSK

    0.1600

    37.04

    +0.43%

  • SCS

    -0.0300

    12.11

    -0.25%

  • BCC

    1.1800

    134.21

    +0.88%

  • RYCEF

    0.0000

    7.08

    0%

  • AZN

    0.4610

    71.881

    +0.64%

  • BP

    0.5100

    29.74

    +1.71%

  • BCE

    -2.5720

    29.528

    -8.71%

  • JRI

    -0.0300

    13.05

    -0.23%

  • CMSD

    0.1500

    24.81

    +0.6%

  • CMSC

    -0.0200

    24.53

    -0.08%

  • RIO

    0.1600

    65.49

    +0.24%

  • VOD

    0.0400

    9.39

    +0.43%

Hamilton says Norris can win Formula One title in 'down to wire' chase
Hamilton says Norris can win Formula One title in 'down to wire' chase / Photo: © AFP

Hamilton says Norris can win Formula One title in 'down to wire' chase

Lewis Hamilton believes Lando Norris can still catch and beat defending three-time world champion Max Verstappen to the title this year thanks to the performance of his McLaren car and team.

Text size:

Talking to reporters ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the seven-time champion also welcomed the excitement their duel has brought to this year's run-in.

He also suggested a return to gravel traps instead of forgiving run-off areas was the only way to curtail Verstappen's aggressive style that saw him twice penalised 10 seconds in Mexico last Sunday.

"It's really exciting for the sport," said Hamilton, who was the victim of similar tactics by the Dutchman at the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

"The last couple of years have not necessarily been so exciting, with Max just leading the way and that sometimes happens.

"But I think it's been exciting for the fans to see that it can go down to the wire this year. There's still a possibility of Lando catching up.

"I think he needs 11 points more, or something, in each of these next races, which is definitely possible with the performance they have."

Verstappen leads Norris by 47 points with four race weekends left in the championship.

Hamilton avoided adding to the controversy surrounding Verstappen's style, but said: "Everyone knows what happened in the last two races. Everyone will have their opinion on it, but at the end of the day those two know what they're doing.

"I'm just hoping I can have a good seat view to watch it all, as they'll be ahead."

Asked to consider 2021, he was reluctant, but measured. .

Hamilton said: "The rules are still the same as they were back in 2021. So, what we saw in 2021, with myself and Max, is still happening today and will continue until they make a change.

"All you have to do is go and listen to some of my radio comments back in the day. It's not something I want to tap into. It's nothing to do with me at the moment.

"If I was in the battle, I could lean in more, but you'd have to ask those two because it's affecting them. I don't think you have seen much difference from 2021, it's all pretty much the same."

When asked about possible changes to the sport to stop drivers being forced off during overtaking battles, the Mercedes star said: "All the runoff areas don't help. If it was gravel or grass, they wouldn't be doing that all the way out there.

"Maybe around Max's time, or just before, they started having these run-off areas. The younger drivers were able to come in and abuse them by not putting the car on grass."

Hamilton confirmed also that he was relishing the "emotional experience" of driving Ayrton Senna's 1990 world championship-winning McLaren MP4/5 on Saturday.

He said the demonstration laps, to mark the 30th anniversary of Senna's death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, were intended to be a secret, "but, somehow, it got out there – it's impossible to keep things quiet."

"I love coming here," added Hamilton, made an honorary Brazilian in 2022.

"Every opportunity I get to spend time here… you learn more about the culture. It's the colours. It's Ayrton, the culture of the people. You just vibe off that for the whole weekend."

S.Jones--TFWP