“Lando’s found some pace”: Unheard radio from Verstappen-Norris Imola duel

Max Verstappen’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix victory was his fifth of the 2024 season, but certainly his most hard-fought.

For the final laps, he had to face gradually growing pressure from Lando Norris in the McLaren – fresh from his first grand prix victory and hungry for more.

While they converged over the final phase of the race, they had rather varied runs to each other over the 63 laps, as could be heard from the radio conversations between Verstappen and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase as well as Norris and his engineer, Will Joseph.

Here is how the races played out for the two main protagonists over the course of Sunday afternoon, told through their respective radio waves.

2024 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix radio: Verstappen and Norris

Jump to:

“We’re worried about the rears…”
“Why are we staying out?”
“I’m trying and he’s a lot quicker…”
“Lando’s found some pace…”
“Leave me to it”

“We’re worried about the rears…”

Despite getting away from the grid well, Norris had wheelspin through the second phase of his start which prevented him from getting a run on the Red Bull down to the first corner. Verstappen kept the lead with Norris slotting into second place with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in third position.

DRS was activated at the end of the opening lap, but with just a single DRS zone on the circuit, Red Bull pushed Verstappen to try and ensure he was more than a second ahead of Norris as he reached the detection zone on the run down to Rivazza. If Norris managed to stay within a second, the benefit of having DRS could make it very difficult for Verstappen to shake him during the early phase of the race.

Lap: 1/63 VER: 1’22.881, NOR: 1’23.764
Lambiase	Car behind: Lando.
Lambiase	Mode ‘six’. Gap: 0.7.
Lap: 2/63 VER: 1’20.596, NOR: 1’20.673
Lambiase	So, 0.8 across the line.	Joseph	And DRS enabled for next time around.
Lambiase	Okay, DRS is now enabled.	Joseph	Gap ahead close, 0.9. Overtake maybe to help.
Lambiase	Verstappen exits Tosa Another reminder, Max, DRS detection point, on the run to [turn] 17.
Lambiase	Verstappen approaches Rivazza Gap: one second.
Lambiase	Does not have DRS.
Lap: 3/63 VER: 1’20.872, NOR: 1’20.884
Lambiase	Approaching Rivazza 1.1.	Joseph	And Leclerc will have DRS behind you, he’s 1.1. We have Strat 12, strat 12 if you want more deployment at those places.
Lap: 4/63 VER: 1’20.671, NOR: 1’21.205
Lambiase	On pit straight And 0.9.	Joseph	Leclerc will not have DRS.
Lambiase	Main losses, Max: Turn nine, entry speed, 17 and 18.

With both drivers – and the majority of the field – aiming for a one-stop strategy, conserving their tyres throughout both stints would be vital. It would not take long before Norris was receiving instructions to look after his tyres.

Lap: 6/63 VER: 1’20.868, NOR: 1’20.909
		Joseph	And Lando we see the turn three oversteer on both cars [unclear]
Lap: 7/63 VER: 1’20.868, NOR: 1’20.923
		Joseph	Okay Lando bit of an update for you. So Leclerc, Sainz and Oscar are quite close behind. Then there’s a gap of two seconds to Russell and Hamilton, then a gap to Hulkenberg holding up everyone else up 10 seconds behind.
Lap: 8/63 VER: 1’20.762, NOR: 1’20.997
		Joseph	Suggest strat seven, strat seven. Look after tyres a little bit turn seven, more worried about…
		Norris	Interrupting I can’t hear anything you’re saying, mate.
		Joseph	Clearer Look after the rear tyres a bit more turn seven. We’re worried about the rears more than the fronts at the moment.

But while McLaren were more concerned about Norris’s rear axle, the front tyres were the problem for the race leader.

Lap: 9/63 VER: 1’20.543, NOR: 1’21.052
Lambiase	Initial update on balance, please, Max?	Joseph	Okay Lando another bit of an update. We’re clearing Hulkenberg at quite a rate. We should clear him and everyone else in the mid-teens. So building a gap to Leclerc is good for us. Do you think we’re racing who we expect?
		Norris	Yeah, I think so. Just struggling with rears.
Lap: 10/63 VER: 1’21.093, NOR: 1’21.272
Verstappen	Yeah, all okay. Just managing front end, here. But the offset is okay.	Joseph	And Lando some cars at the back beginning to pit, doesn’t affect our race. Both you and Oscar complaining about the rears too. And main areas for rears are turn, seven, turn 13, turn 15.
Lambiase	Copy that, that’s a purple lap. 2.6 behind.
Lap: 12/63 VER: 1’21.287, NOR: 1’21.438
Verstappen	My fronts really start to get [unclear] a little bit.	Joseph	Okay Lando overtaking is as expected. The undercut power on the hard does not look strong right now. Gap to Hulkenberg 16.0.
Lambiase	Okay. Let’s have diff ‘6’ and mid ‘6’, Max. Display ‘5’, position ‘3’ for more front in high speed, Max. And the gap is 3.3.
Lap: 13/63 VER: 1’21.073, NOR: 1’21.735
Verstappen	What is this mode ‘5’ again? For high speed?	Joseph	Lando suggest red A5, red A5, and use left-hand paddle where you need it, left hand paddle when you need it.
Lambiase	Display ‘5’, position ‘3’. Gap: 3.9.	Norris	Down one, for sure.
		Joseph	Understood Lando.
Lap: 15/63 VER: 1’21.323, NOR: 1’21.666
Lambiase	So torque ‘6’ or mid ‘6’, Max, to help your apex.	Joseph	Norris has a snap of oversteer in Rivazza 2 So Lando Hulkenberg pitted…
Verstappen	Exiting Tamburello Yeah, out of here is also not a holiday…	Norris	Yeah, shitty last corner because of rear. I’m starting to struggle with it.
Lambiase	Okay, understood. Just be careful about your slips on that front-right tyre, that’s all. That’s our main concern at the moment.	Joseph	So after the Mercedes we’ve got Perez 20, then Stroll 23 and Ocon 26.
Lap: 16/63 VER: 1’21.362, NOR: 1’21.523
Verstappen	[???] have understeer when I take it [???]. There’s not much you can do.	Joseph	Lando, a question for you. Stroll is currently doing 22.4s, he’s on a medium. Do you think you’d pass him?
Lambiase	Yep, understood, Max. Actually, I think Lando’s complaining more about his rear axle.	Norris	Yeah.
Lap: 17/63 VER: 1’21.328, NOR: 1’21.565
Lambiase	Strat ‘6’, when you can. Strat ‘6’.
Verstappen	Yeah, just keep an eye on that left-front, guys. Won’t be another 20 laps.
Lambiase	Understood, Max.
Lambiase	I’ll take a front wing update, please, Max.
Verstappen	Yeah, maybe two clicks more?
Lambiase	Understood, plus-two clicks.

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“Why are we staying out?”

While Verstappen was gradually growing his lead at a modest rate, but he was beginning to stay just a little bit beyond the white lines at the exit of some of the corners, including the two Rivazzas. He picked up two track limits strikes in a matter of minutes.

Meanwehile, McLaren were preparing to bring Norris in for his sole scheduled stop of the race, which saw him pit at the end of lap 22 and switch onto the hard tyres.

Lap: 18/63 VER: 1’21.411, NOR: 1’21.617
Lambiase	And the first track limits strike at turn 18, Max.	Joseph	Lando how are tyres? The last few laps look better.
		Norris	Yeah it’s because I’m doing a better job with the toys but I need more help with this kind of stuff.
		Joseph	And Lando both Safety Car windows are open. Please confirm.
		Norris	Confirm.
Lap: 19/63 VER: 1’21.517, NOR: 1’21.793
		Joseph	And Lando we suggest red A6, red A6.
Lap: 20/63 VER: 1’21.550, NOR: 1’21.883
		Joseph	And Lando main time loss to Leclerc and Verstappen is the exit of turn 15. Exit turn 15.
Lap: 21/63 VER: 1’21.608, NOR: 1’21.855
Lambiase	Okay, that is 20 laps complete, Max. Twenty laps. Gap: 6.2.	Joseph	And Lando suggest green F1, green F1. So Perez is on a hard tyre. A few laps ago he went off. The gap to him is now 26.8, 26.8. Last lap he did a 21.8.
Verstappen	Front-left is not good…
Lap: 22/63 VER: 1’21.763, NOR: 1’26.107
Lambiase	That’s correct, Max. You’re still happy with plus-two?	Joseph	Lando Perez last time 22.2. Do you think you would pass him?
Verstappen	Yeah.	Joseph	Lando Russell has just pitted.
Lambiase	Okay, you’ve had a second track limits warning, Max. That was turn six [Villenueve] on the previous lap. So that’s two warnings.	Norris	I think I would, yes.
Verstappen	I mean, you take it, the white line. I mean…	Joseph	100% pace, 100% pace.
		Joseph	And Lando we are box this lap, box this lap.
		Norris	Confirm.
		Joseph	Box now. Box now. Launch map, launch map, launch map. Stint two and out lap two. Undercut power not great. Perez just over the start finish line now, we’ll be close at exit, press overtake.

Norris emerged just behind Sergio Perez. But frustration only lasted for a lap before he managed to overtake the second Red Bull along the pit straight with the help of DRS.

As Norris tried to carefully bring his fresh hard tyres into a working window, Verstappen was becoming agitated about the state of his tyres, which were offering very little grip to him. To make matters worse, he received a third track limits strike and a black-and-white warning flag, which left him on thin ice for the remaining 40 laps.

Lap: 23/63 VER: 1’21.988, NOR: 1’44.693
Lambiase	Okay, Max, so Lando in the pitlane this lap. Lando is in pit lane. For reference, the gap was 6.7.	Joseph	Perez passes Norris as the McLaren leaves the pits Perez coming past you.
Verstappen	After understeering through Tosa My tyre is fucked. Left-front’s fucked.
Lambiase	Understood. At the moment, Lando is immediately behind Checo.
Verstappen	Yeah, there’s no rotation for me.
Lambiase	Understood, Max.
Lap: 24/63 VER: 1’26.212, NOR: 1’20.468
Lambiase	Okay, Max, that was a third track limits warning: turn 17 [Rivazza]. That’s now a black-and-white flag. No more.	Joseph	Okay mate well done. Gap to Leclerc 24.5. Settle in, plan A.
Lambiase	You still think plus-two is enough, Max?
Verstappen	The car- it’s fucked! The tyre is fucked! Why are we staying out?!
Lambiase	The question was on the flap – do you still think plus-two is enough?
Verstappen	Oh, fine!
Lambiase	Then box and pit confirm, please. Box and pit confirm.
Lambiase	Strat ’12’ in pit lane, please Max.
Lap: 25/63 VER: 1’43.602, NOR: 1’20.977
Lambiase	Verstappen leaves pit box Strat ‘6’. Strat ‘6’. A reminder; no more track limits.	Joseph	And Lando Verstappen has pitted. Just leaving the pit lane now. Suggest red A5, red A5. We came down two-and-a-half holes, down two-and-a-half.
Lambiase	Verstappen leaves pits So Norris, car behind. Gap: five seconds.	Joseph	And Lando Leclerc has pitted. He will come out behind us. And Lando. We think this is now plan A for everybody. So that becomes our priority.
Lambiase	Correction: gap 4.2.
Lap: 26/63 VER: 1’20.482, NOR: 1’20.899
		Joseph	Suggest silver B5, silver B5.

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“I’m trying and he’s a lot quicker…”

Fitted with hard tyres and under instructions not to stress them too much, Norris began to fall back from Verstappen, while Leclerc closed up to him. But McLaren were insistent that his gentle approach would pay off in the end.

Lap: 28/63 VER: 1’20.709, NOR: 1’21.077
Lambiase	So Lando pace – four laps in – ‘21.0.
Lap: 29/63 VER: 1’20.615, NOR: 1’20.933
Lambiase	So Lando last lap was a ‘21.1.
Lambiase	Obviously you’re looking at a 39-lap stint here, Max. So do look after the tyres where you can, please: [at turns] five, nine, 11.
Lap: 30/63 VER: 1’20.571, NOR: 1’20.720
		Joseph	ACS button press, please. Verstappen 6.4 ahead, did a 20.6 last time. Leclerc 3.3 behind, he’s fighting with Oscar, he’s using the tyres much more than us.
Lap: 34/63 VER: 1’20.760, NOR: 1’20.776
		Norris	Why am I so much slower than the guys behind?
		Joseph	Lando they’re using their tyres a lot more than we are. And also exit…
		Norris	Interrupts Yeah but I have no pace.
		Joseph	…exit kerb [unclear].
		Norris	What’s he doing in turn 15?
Lap: 35/63 VER: 1’20.800, NOR: 1’20.687
		Joseph	Lando they’re just pushing the slips harder at the exit of turn 15, which is why they’re using their tyre a lot more than you.
		Joseph	Lando it’s the later on-throttle phase they’re pushing, not the early bit.
Lap: 37/63 VER: 1’20.484, NOR: 1’20.714
		Joseph	Okay, Lando, suggest holding seventh into turn 14. Gap to Leclerc is 2.8. You’re currently quicker than Verstappen ahead and Leclerc behind. The hard tyre looks a difficult one. People had a lot of deg on it, so it’s tricky. It’ll be about tidying up the details in every corner.
Lap: 38/63 VER: 1’20.366, NOR: 1’20.458
		Joseph	And suggest left-hand pedal in turn nine.

At this phase of the race, Norris was far more concerned about Leclerc behind than Verstappen in front. Even Red Bull began to give Verstappen information about the Ferrari driver, as if they deemed him as a potential threat before the end of the race.

Lap: 39/63 VER: 1’20.547, NOR: 1’20.591
Lambiase	Lando last lap: ‘20.4. Leclerc: ‘20.2.
Lambiase	There are three blue flags between yourself and Lando and Charles..
Lap: 40/63 VER: 1’20.645, NOR: 1’21.025
Lambiase	How’s the balance on this tyre compounds, please Max?	Joseph	Lando, opportunity. Suggest later lift turn 11. Last couple of laps, Leclerc tried to push on a bit…
Verstappen	Just low grip… front and rear.	Norris	Interrupting Speak up.
Lambiase	Okay.	Joseph	Suggest a later lift into turn 11. Leclerc tried to speed up a bit. The lap before he did a 21, last lap 20.5, so he’s trying.
		Norris	Yep. Me too. I’m trying and he’s a lot quicker.
Lap: 41/63 VER: 1’20.675, NOR: 1’21.102
Lambiase	Gap: seven. Lando: ‘21.0. Charles: 20.5.	Joseph	Suggest red A4, red A4. And Leclerc is 1.6.
Lap: 42/63 VER: 1’20.832, NOR: 1’20.828
Lambiase	Gap: 7.4.
Lap: 43/63 VER: 1’20.757, NOR: 1’20.838
Verstappen	Low grip, turn two. Easy to lose the rear.	Joseph	Leclerc will have DRS.
Lambiase	Understood.	Joseph	Suggest strat 12, strat 12.
Lambiase	The push toggle is available at turn two, Max. Push toggle, turn two.
Lap: 44/63 VER: 1’20.834, NOR: 1’20.708
		Joseph	Lando possible suggestion. So into turn 14 potentially avoid the kerb, don’t push the entry to 14 as much, to get a better exit from 15.
Lap: 45/63 VER: 1’21.364, NOR: 1’20.339
Lambiase	Okay, so the gap’s 7.4. Norris: 20.7. And Leclerc is now on Lando’s tail.

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“Lando’s found some pace…”

Even though Norris had Leclerc approaching in his mirrors, Norris was now starting to slowly cut into Verstappen’s lead out front. However, an error for the Ferrari driver at Variante Alta relieved the pressure from Norris and allowed him to refocus on the leader instead.

Lap: 46/63 VER: 1’20.700, NOR: 1’20.546
Lambiase	6.3. Lando found some pace last lap: was a ‘20.3.	Joseph	Lando ACS button please and suggest eighth gear into turn 17.
Lap: 47/63 VER: 1’20.909, NOR: 1’20.816
Lambiase	So gap: 6.2. Pace behind: ‘20.5.	Norris	Does he have DRS?
		Joseph	Yes. They’re deploying to turn 17 to get it.
Lap: 48/63 VER: 1’20.923, NOR: 1’20.803
		Joseph	Leclerc went wide through turn 15, gap 1.6.
		Joseph	And you can use eighth into turn 17. Okay Lando gap to Leclerc 2.3. If there was a Safety Car, you would lose out to potentially Leclerc, Oscar, Sainz. We think they might take it. Would you, if you came out behind them?
Lap: 49/63 VER: 1’20.823, NOR: 1’20.485
Lambiase	Fifteen laps remaining, Max. Gap: six seconds.	Norris	I think so, yeah.
Lap: 50/63 VER: 1’20.817, NOR: 1’20.039
Lambiase	Gap: 5.6. Main losses to Lando: turn two and turn six.	Joseph	Lando blue B7. Blue B7. Last lap, Verstappen did a 20.8.
Verstappen	Yeah, my tyres don’t work, mate.
Lambiase	Just for information, that’s all.
Verstappen	Yeah, same for me.

Verstappen was now starting to struggle with the grip from his used hard tyres. Norris was catching – and catching quickly.

Both teams were now coaching their drivers to try various things to try and help with their respective weaknesses around the lap as the tension began to build.

Lap: 51/63 VER: 1’20.736, NOR: 1’20.367
Lambiase	So, gap: 4.9. Lando: ‘20.0.
Lap: 52/63 VER: 1’20.556, NOR: 1’20.582
		Joseph	And Lando Verstappen is complaining about…
		Norris	I see, I see, I see. All good. I’m pushing mate.
Lap: 53/63 VER: 1’20.638, NOR: 1’20.141
Lambiase	So I guess the main thing to focus on now, Max, is as the gap is less than five seconds, we really can’t afford any track limits. So focus on that, mate.	Joseph	Lando suggest strat seven, please, strat seven.
Lambiase	And engine ’13’, engine ‘1-3’, position ‘6’, when you can. Position ‘6’.
Lap: 54/63 VER: 1’20.918, NOR: 1’19.994
Lambiase	Gap: 4.0. Pace: ‘20.1.	Joseph	Okay Lando opportunity is still the mid corner of turn 15. So just give up a little bit of entry to help.
Verstappen	Nah, turn seven [Villeneuve], the car doesn’t turn.
Lambiase	Okay, understood. Stand by.
Lambiase	So try the left hand button at turn seven. Left hand button.

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“Leave me to it”

Eventually, the gap fell to under five seconds. Despite his older tyres, Norris was clearly in with a chance of catching Verstappen for the lead before the end of the race.

Verstappen was having to navigate lapped traffic at the same time and was unimpressed with Yuki Tsunoda staying on the racing line as he yielded to him on the approach to Piratella.

Lap: 55/63 VER: 1’20.962, NOR: 1’20.182
Lambiase	Okay, gap: 3.1. Pace: ‘19.9.
Verstappen	After lapping Tsunoda on the run up to Piratella Can he let me by even more stupid?
Lap: 56/63 VER: 1’20.490, NOR: 1’20.168
Lambiase	Okay, so 2.3.
Verstappen	[???]
Lap: 57/63 VER: 1’20.511, NOR: 1’20.105
		Joseph	And Lando happy to push turn nine a little bit more.
		Norris	I’m pushing as much as I can mate.
Lap: 59/63 VER: 1’20.367, NOR: 1’20.489
Lambiase	Five laps remaining. Five laps.	Joseph	Suggest strat 12, strat 12.
		Norris	Yeah I’m just losing too much grip.
Lap: 60/63 VER: 1’20.637, NOR: 1’20.239
Lambiase	Strat ‘5’. Strat ‘5’.
Verstappen	I was clipping more.
Lambiase	Strat ‘6’. Strat ‘6’.
Lap: 61/63 VER: 1’20.698, NOR: 1’20.502
Lambiase	Strat ‘5’ again please, Max. Strat ‘5’.	Joseph	Lando his pack is almost empty. Use some of yours.
Verstappen	Battery is almost empty.
Lambiase	If we want to top up the battery, it’d be mode ‘7’, Max. But you will clip more in mode ‘7’.

Heading into the closing laps, Verstappen could see the McLaren looming large in his mirrors. Over some tense final laps, Verstappen asked to be left alone to concentrate on driving.

Fortunately for Red Bull, Verstappen managed to just hold Norris out of DRS range entering the final lap, which ensured that the McLaren would be denied the best overtaking opportunity along the pit straight. Verstappen completed the final lap to win by seven tenths of a second, prompting some rare emotion from the world champion.

Lap: 62/63 VER: 1’20.753, NOR: 1’20.564
Verstappen	The gap is 1.2. Two laps remaining.	Norris	How many laps to go?
		Joseph	One. That’s one after this one.
		Joseph	Early press out of 15.
Lap: 63/63 VER: 1’21.035, NOR: 1’20.743
Verstappen	Gap?
Lambiase	Okay, final lap. Gap is 1.1. Does not have DRS.
Verstappen	Lambiase opens the radio but closes before speaking Leave me to it.
Chequered flag
Lambiase	Okay. Well done, Max. Close call, but did it in the end. Nice job.	Joseph	White H11 position 12, please and leave recharge off.
Verstappen	Fucking hell, mate! I had to work for that! Woo! Well anyway, we did a great race, considering how the weekend started, you know? I had to work hard for that.	Norris	Unlucky. Almost. I just lost too much in the beginning. But another amazing weekend, well done everyone. A lot of points tonight, another trophy. Let’s keep it up.
Horner	Well done, mate! That was a very, very, very strong drive. That’s two wins for you in a day, I think. So, we are definitely stronger on the medium and perhaps a bit weaker on the hard today. But really, really impressive drive. Really impressive weekend.	Joseph	And driver of the day as well, mate.
Verstappen	Yeah, that’s [unclear]. Had to go flat out.	Norris	One or two more laps there, that’s all I needed. Well done guys. Oh, it’s frustrating not to win. It feels more painful now. Do I go in the pits or the grid, mate, you want to tell me?
Lambiase	Plenty of pick up on the way in, please Max. Pick up on the way in.	Joseph	In the pits mate, same as yesterday.
Lambiase	You’re coming into the pit lane, Max. Coming into the pit lane.
Horner	It was just really strange how their pace came to them in the last third of the race. Before that, you had them totally covered on the medium and everything.
Verstappen	Yeah, the hard tyre just had no grip for me. So I don’t know. I think the medium was very strong. I guess the hard tyre was just a bit out of the window for us.

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