Max Verstappen's "calm" and maturity should allow him to fend off Lando Norris in the fight for the 2024 world championship, according to former Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli.
Despite the exploding controversy surrounding Red Bull's 'T-tray' ride height system at the US Grand Prix, Verstappen's team at least received a boost with the news that their latest upgrades seem to be delivering.
"After practice we knew for sure that we could compete at the front in a single lap," Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko told Servus TV.
Verstappen secured pole for the sprint race, commenting afterward, "The car felt good. It's been a while since I was at the front."
McLaren, on the other hand, had a more challenging day, although the longer-run pace comparison between them and Red Bull remains uncertain. "We don't have any comparable times," said Marko.
"But this is a positive start," he added. "The new parts worked straight away."
With six races left in the season, McLaren has been quicker recently, and the tension between the two teams—both technically and psychologically—is heating up. The question on everyone's mind is whether Verstappen or Norris will emerge as the champion.
"We still have six races and three sprints," Trulli told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "That's not a small amount.
"But Max still has a sizeable lead and you can count on him to maximize every race," the 50-year-old added. "I think it will be very difficult for Norris to become world champion this year.
"Lando needs to be flawless and hope for some unexpected issues for his rival. But Max has the maturity and calmness of a three-time world champion. While Lando is fast, he isn't as complete a driver as Verstappen.
"He has missed opportunities to win in the best car. He makes too many mistakes at the start or on the first lap. If he wants to take the title from Verstappen, he must correct that," Trulli explained.
Earlier in the week, Marko also questioned Norris' "mental strength," pointing out his need for various pre-race "rituals."
"I saw Helmut's comments," McLaren CEO Zak Brown remarked in Austin. "I thought they were disappointing, but not surprising. Lando has been an ambassador for mental health.
"So for someone to poke fun at that is pretty inappropriate and sets us back maybe 10 or 20 years."
However, Brown was less concerned about Verstappen's suggestion to Oscar Piastri that he reconsider following any potential McLaren team orders during the final stages of the season.
"I saw Max's comments," he said. "I like Max. I like Max a lot.
"We've had some good conversations this year, so I think it's just part of the sport. Lando doesn't have any problem with it. I don't have a problem with it."
