Lando is ready to take it to the max

LANDO NORRIS knows Max Verstappen will “push the boundaries” to win again this year but insists he is ready for the Dutchman’s dark arts.

- By Daniel Moxon

The Brit finished a career-best second in the Formula One standings last year, but was still some 63 points adrift of Verstappen.

Their title fight created several flashpoints, including a collision which ended their chances of victory in Austria, and a furious skirmish in Mexico, which led to Verstappen being handed 20 seconds’ worth of penalties.

Norris, 25, kept it clean despite those regular run-ins, leading to the critics labelling him too meek.

As he heads into tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix at the start of a new season as favourite to win both, the McLaren racer admits he “clearly wasn’t ready” to beat Verstappen last term.

But, now he has had a taste of how the four-time champion operates, he has confidently declared himself fully prepared for the fight.