McLaren and Lando Norris are currently one of the strongest pairings on the F1 grid, yet Alex Albon doubts the Briton’s ability to reel in and overhaul Max Verstappen for the 2024 world title.
Norris currently trails the championship leader by 78 points with 10 races remaining, a substantial gap to bridge.
While McLaren has shown strong pace and can beat Red Bull, inconsistent performances and strategic errors have hampered their title challenge.
As a result, the gap between the two drivers remains substantial. However, the struggles of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull car and Oscar Piastri's strong performances alongside Norris have helped McLaren cut the deficit in the Constructors' Championship to just 42 points.
Although Albon doubts Norris can make up the lost ground against Verstappen, the Williams driver believes that F1’s Constructors' Championship remains a realistic target for the Woking-based outfit.
“I don’t know how much I believe Lando can take it off Max,” Albon told RacingNews365.
“I look at it more like a Constructors’ Championship battle than a Drivers’ Championship battle. I think that what’s great to see is just purely there’s a fight.
“There’s a proper fight up at the top of every race, it seems to be some kind of thing going on.”
This season is seeing Red Bull’s unwavering dominance under F1’s ground effect regulations being challenged by multiple teams.
Alongside McLaren, who has won twice so far this year, Ferrari showed competitive form earlier in the season, and a rejuvenated Mercedes team managed to secure three wins in four races leading up to the summer break.
Albon acknowledged that it has been a refreshing change to see closer competition at the front of the grid.
“I think last year, last few years, it’s always been the midfield battles that have created any form of racing,” the Williams racer added.
“And now it’s actually the top teams are the ones that are creating the fighting, which is great to see.”
Reflecting on the different pressures faced by Norris and Verstappen, Albon noted: "It’s interesting, obviously, Max has been in his position, many a times. For Lando, it’s newer for him."
“But yeah, I mean, obviously, I’m busy driving my car, but at the same time, when the blue flags do come up it’s good to see the battles.”
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