Given McLaren's pace, however, the Brit is the most realistic challenger to the Dutchman, who is seeking a fourth consecutive crown.
Despite this, McLaren have been reluctant to declare Norris their number one driver, sparking plenty of debate at both the Hungarian and Italian Grands Prix for different reasons.
At the latter, team radio even introduced the public to 'papaya rules' - a set of inter-team rules designed by McLaren when their two cars are fighting for position on track.
In the aftermath of the race in Monza, Steiner was questioned on whether or not he feels Norris deserves to win the world championship this year.
Steiner made his feelings on that well known but also pointed out an unusual trait that the McLaren star possesses given he is a racing driver.
“I don’t know if it is, if you ask, it’s not [an] obvious thing," Steiner explained on the Red Flags Podcast. “Oh yeah, he deserves to win it. No, I mean, he needs to fight for it,"
“But you know what was strange to me as well? It’s like Oscar overtakes him, there is never a bad reaction or an emotional reaction from Lando. It’s never.
"I mean, I would go on the radio and say, what the .... is this all about?"
With just eight races to go, time is running out for Norris to catch Verstappen in the championship.
McLaren, despite the criticism they have faced, are now genuine contenders for the constructors' crown, arguably the current favourites.