\n<\/p>\n
Norris acknowledged he could have won in Canada two weeks ago, had he made the decision to pit immediately when the first of two safety cars was deployed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax shouldn\u2019t have won last weekend in Montreal but he was the most consistent through the race, made least mistakes as a driver and a team and came out on top,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should have boxed (pitted) on the safety car. George (Russell of Mercedes) had the quickest car and if he didn\u2019t make a couple of mistakes, which all drivers do, he should have probably also had a chance of winning the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just shows that when Max hasn\u2019t had the best car, he still shows what he is capable of doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it\u2019s even more important to get the strategy right and the smaller things correct because when the cars are so close on pace those things make a bigger difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norris said he expected this weekend\u2019s race in Spain to be another close fight between the top three or four teams, after a difficult weekend for Ferrari in Montreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been good at all of them so far so I don\u2019t expect things to change too much,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI expect it to be close. Red Bull probably a bit more back to where they should be. Ferrari after last weekend back to where they should be.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been the most consistently ‘there’ team. We\u2019ve not suddenly been quickest and easily dominating a weekend like we\u2019ve seen Red Bull and Ferrari do.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we have been a very good all-rounder so far, which over the course of a season is exactly what we want and is a good strength from where we were last year, when we were very up and down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Verstappen said: \u201cI don\u2019t think it will be like the beginning of the season (when he dominated) but we know this is a track that our car should suit a bit more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m aware everyone has been catching up a lot but compared to the last few races, this should give us a better chance.<\/p>\n
\u201cMcLaren have been quick everywhere and they are going to be quick here. Mercedes and Ferrari have made good steps forward and should be quite decent here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russell said Spain would \u201cbe a real test\u201d for Mercedes as to whether their progress in Canada would continue. \u201cIf we are fast this weekend, that bodes really well for the season,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Team-mate Lewis Hamilton said he was \u201coptimistic\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n