Button Backs Norris: Can Lando Dethrone Verstappen in F1 Title Race?

World champion Jenson Button believes that Lando Norris has the potential to surpass Max Verstappen and win this year's F1 world championship.

Jenson Button has predicted that Lando Norris will surpass Max Verstappen and claim the F1 world championship this year.

Current world champion Verstappen leads by 52 points over McLaren's Norris as the season heads into its final stretch, featuring six grand prix races and three sprint events. The competition picks back up with the United States Grand Prix in Austin this weekend.

Max Verstappen secured victories in seven of the first ten races, establishing a strong lead in the championship as Red Bull took control of the initial phase of the season. However, he has not won in the last eight races.

During this period, Norris has secured two wins with his significantly enhanced McLaren and has surpassed Verstappen in points in all races except one, narrowing the Dutchman's lead in the championship standings.

During an episode of the Sky Sports F1 podcast, 2009 world champion Jenson Button expressed his belief that Norris has the potential to win the championship.

"I've experienced being in Max's position, where the car's performance has declined from earlier in the season, and there's someone closing in on you. It's a challenging situation."

"Max is incredibly resilient. Unlike many other drivers, he doesn’t seem to be affected by pressure, but this is a challenging scenario. He has already convinced himself that he won't secure another victory this season."

"He finds himself in a situation where he simply needs to return with some points. However, when you impose such pressure on yourself, securing a podium finish can become even more challenging."

Button thinks Verstappen will face more challenges if teams like Ferrari and Mercedes join the competition at the front of the grid.

"It's not only McLaren that is showing speed with Lando Norris; Oscar Piastri has also achieved impressive results. Mercedes and Ferrari are also in the mix," he stated.

"If the entire group spends a weekend together and the Red Bull car doesn't perform as well as it did at the beginning of the year, a significant number of points could be missed in just one race. The outcome is still uncertain. Max has an advantage, but it's a situation filled with pressure, which adds to the excitement."

"Formula 1 is currently thriving, with numerous teams competing for top positions. I was genuinely surprised by this development this season, but it's exciting to witness four teams in contention for victories."

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