Jenson Button Backs Lando Norris to Overcome Verstappen for F1 Glory Amidst Tense Championship Battle

Jenson Button believes Lando Norris has what it takes to outperform Max Verstappen in this season's F1 championship race.

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

Current world title holder Verstappen leads McLaren's Norris by 52 points, with the season set to continue through six more grand prix events and three sprint races, starting with this weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Verstappen secured wins in seven out of the first 10 grand prix races, establishing a significant lead in the championship as Red Bull took control in the campaign's initial phase. However, he has not won in the last eight races.

Norris has secured two wins during this period with his significantly enhanced McLaren, surpassing Verstappen in points in all but one race, thereby reducing the Dutch driver's lead in the championship.

"Absolutely, I believe he [Norris] has what it takes to clinch the championship," 2009 world champion Button expressed to the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

"I've experienced what it's like when the car doesn't perform as well as it did at the start of the season and you have someone hot on your heels. It's challenging."

Max is a resilient individual. It appears that he handles stress better than many other racers, yet he's facing a challenging predicament. He's convinced himself that he won't be crossing the finish line first in any more races this year.

"He finds himself needing to return home with points on the board. However, the added pressure can make it even more challenging to secure a spot on the podium."

Button thinks Verstappen will face more challenges if teams such as Ferrari and Mercedes can become contenders at the front of the race.

"He also mentioned that with Lando Norris, McLaren has increased its speed, and Oscar Piastri has achieved impressive outcomes. In addition, he pointed out that Mercedes and Ferrari remain strong competitors."

Should they manage to spend a weekend as a team and the Red Bull doesn't perform at its earlier season level, that represents a significant loss of points in just a single race. The outcome remains uncertain. Max is currently well-placed but he's under immense pressure, which adds an exciting element to the situation.

Currently, Formula 1 is thriving, with an impressive number of teams vying for the top spot. It's a surprising development for this season, one I hadn't anticipated, but it's a delightful turn of events. Witnessing four teams in the mix for victories is truly exciting.

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