Lando Norris explains surprise ritual after Helmut Marko’s bizarre and inappropriate claim

McLaren star Landon Norris has clapped back at Red Bull chief Helmut Marko over his comments about his ‘mental weakness’.

The British driver is challenging Max Verstappen for the Formula 1 title this season, but has let points slip through his grasp at important points.

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His inability to secure multiple pole positions has helped his Dutch rival maintain a 54-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

And ahead of last weekend’s race in Austin, Texas for the United States Grand Prix, Marko made an unsavory comment about the 24-year-old.

“We know that Norris has some mental weaknesses,” he claimed of the three-time Grand Prix winner.

“I’ve read about some rituals he has to do to perform well on race day.”

It is not known what Marko was referring to, but Norris’ boss, McLaren CEO Zak Brown, was having none of it.

“I have read Helmut’s comments, which in my opinion were disappointing but not surprising,” he said.

“Lando has been an ambassador for mental health. It’s a serious issue that he has brought to the fore and makes it okay to talk about it. It’s quite inappropriate to poke at that situation and it sets us back ten to twenty years.

“It’s all fun and games when it comes to how some people race and what tactics they use, but I thought there was quite a bit of bad taste.”

However, Norris himself responded to the comments in good humor and emphasized that he has only one ritual: his famous pre-race meal.

And instead of going back and forth, he believes the best way to respond is on the right track.

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“He says I have some rituals, but I think part of this is a translation difference,” he explained.

“My only ritual is eating my chicken wrap!”

He added: “Just beating them is the best way to do that (get inside their heads).

“Red Bull likes that a little more, playing games and stuff. It used to influence me, now I just like it more.”

Norris has the perfect opportunity to get back into Marko’s head when he starts from pole position at the United States Grand Prix.

It looked like Verstappen could take that place, but a late crash by Mercedes’ George Russell prevented him from setting a faster time.

Instead, the three-time world champion will start the race second, ahead of Ferrari stars Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.