Lando Norris admits he can understand if fans stop watching ‘BORING’ Formula One… as Max Verstappen continues dominant streak with Chinese Grand Prix pole
Lando Norris admits he cannot blame the fans who decide to turn their backs on Formula 1 in the wake of Max Verstappen’s incredible but increasingly predictable dominance of the sport.
Three-time world champion Verstappen has started the 2024 season in the same emphatic manner with which he finished the last, winning three of the first four races. The only blemish on Verstappen’s notebook came at the Australian Grand Prix, where he was forced to retire early after his car was hit by a reliability problem.
With these temporary issues a thing of the past, Red Bull’s flying Dutchman has a golden opportunity to take four wins out of five as he prepares to start Sunday morning’s Chinese Grand Prix on pole.
A victory in China for the championship leader would only strengthen Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff’s claim that no one could overtake Verstappen this season. While that assessment is fair, it paints a bleak picture for fans who were longing for an exciting battle for the title.
‘Of course it will be. There’s no way you can say it won’t be,” said Norris, who will start fourth on Sunday morning, when asked whether Verstappen’s continued success will be a turnoff for fans.
Lando Norris says he understands if fans find F1 boring given the dominance of Max Verstappen
Verstappen has won three of the first four races as he continues to thrive in his Red Bull
‘If you keep seeing the same driver winning without a fight, then it naturally starts to get boring and that is clear.
“It’s frustrating for people watching, but that’s the sport. It’s always been that way. Now we’re seeing more dominance than ever, so it’s never going to be the best to watch and the only exciting races are the ones Max isn’t in.
“As a field, it’s almost the closest it’s ever been from start to finish. But you’ve just got one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1 in one of the most dominant cars and it’s a combination that is deadly.”
How can sport level the playing field? It’s a question that made even Norris scratch his head.
He said: ‘They (Red Bull) are just doing better and I don’t know how much you can limit that? It’s also what makes Formula 1 so special and so cool and unique, because everyone does their own thing.
Norris admits it would be complicated to make significant changes to the sport’s rules
‘If everyone had the same car, you would lose half the fans and you would lose the specialness of what Formula 1 is, which is that everyone comes with their own ideas.
“It’s just so complicated, so maybe we should make it simpler by opening up or closing down the regulations. Both could work, I think.’