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Lando Norris insists that "better drivers" can still make a difference in Formula 1, despite Max Verstappen's frustration with the new technical regulations and the cars they've produced.
The McLaren driver dismissed his rival's claims that F1 racers are "not allowed to make a difference" due to the new energy management algorithms in the power units.
According to the Red Bull driver, these algorithms, which distribute energy in the all-new engines, limit a racer's ability to "make a difference" as they cannot manually control its deployment.
The algorithms are self-learning, determining the optimal energy distribution over a lap. This demands precision, consistency, and clean driving from pilots to avoid confusing the systems. Verstappen believes that "you're not allowed to make a difference because it will just penalize you on the next straight."
In response to these comments, Norris explained that, in his opinion, "better drivers" can still make a difference in the corners.
"Obviously, there are some corners where the new rules affect how you take them – like 'Pouhon' at 'Spa', where last year you could get close to flat-out compared to someone who wasn't, and maybe gain half a tenth of a second," Norris stated at a media briefing. "In some corners, yes, perhaps the differences are shrinking, but if you're a better driver, there are still corners where you can try to gain an advantage over others, so I wouldn't say I completely agree with everything."
"I think if you drive better, you'll still be ahead on very fast tracks like 'Silverstone' and 'Spa'; ultimately, there are fewer corners where you can gain lap time."
"But on a track like 'Hungaroring', I don't think that's true at all. You're saying this is a chance where we, as good drivers, should make a bigger difference, but it's not even about being confused by the algorithms; sometimes the system just does random things."
"There are certain things you have to try to do sometimes to help the battery; there are certain styles that perhaps work a little more than in previous years, or you have to try to apply them more than before."
"This, of course, is more because of the battery than just the car, I would say, but even the tires have changed a bit. The characteristics of the tires also mean there are certain things where you can't attack as much as in previous years with the car; this applies to our car."
"But every car is very different, so I can't speak for everyone else. However, there are also many ways we have to drive this car much differently than last season, but that's our job."
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