LANDO HOPE & GLORY

Norris can give Verstappen a run for his money in title race, says legend Mansell

- HARRY SMITH

NIGEL MANSELL is backing Lando Norris to carry his sparkling form onto the unforgiving streets of Monaco this weekend.

And the 1992 world champion is confident Norris's pace will ensure Max Verstappen's bid for a fourth straight title is no walkover.

The McLaren driver claimed his first Grand Prix win in Miami and finished just 0.7secs behind Verstappen in Imola (left).

Landing pole position in Monte Carlo would be vital to Norris's hopes of bagging a second win of the season at the most glamorous venues of them all, where overtaking is nigh on impossible.

But Mansell revealed there is plenty of confidence in the McLaren camp that Norris can pull it off.

"I keep in contact with Zak Brown [the McLaren team principal] and he agrees with me that it's going to be possible to get pole position there," said Mansell (right).