Lando Norris’ chances of winning the 2024 Drivers’ Championship were mathematically dashed as Max Verstappen secured his fourth title with two races remaining. Reflecting on the season, Norris expressed mixed emotions about what could have been, acknowledging Verstappen’s undeniable brilliance.
Despite Norris’ best efforts, he couldn’t match Verstappen’s consistency. Even when the Dutchman didn’t have the fastest car, he was always a formidable force, showing why he’s not only the best in F1 right now but also one of the sport’s all-time greats.
“Congrats to Max. It’s 100 percent over now, and while we always held onto a bit of hope, he’s driven an incredible season,” Norris said to Sky Sports. “When he had the fastest car, he was dominant. And when he didn’t, he was still there, always right behind me… He just had the better season,” Norris added, admitting that Verstappen made his life increasingly difficult.
The Vegas Grand Prix weekend was a tough one for Norris, who struggled to find comfort on the slippery circuit. The cold temperatures made grip hard to achieve, hindering his ability to push the car to its limits. Qualifying behind Verstappen only heightened his frustration, and Norris confessed he didn’t feel the usual confidence heading into the race.
The challenging conditions continued into the race. “The race was pretty pants,” Norris said bluntly. “Bad pace, bad grip, bad tire management, just a poor weekend for us.”
As McLaren’s 2024 season continues to unfold, they face a fierce battle for the Constructors’ Championship. Despite a less-than-ideal result in Las Vegas, with Norris finishing P6 and Oscar Piastri in P7, McLaren still leads with 608 points. However, Ferrari has closed the gap to 584 points, putting pressure on McLaren to perform well in the final races. Red Bull sits in third with 555 points, and while they’re unlikely to challenge for the Constructors’ title, they could still vie for second place.
Ferrari’s eyes are firmly on the prize as they look to secure their first Constructors’ Championship since 2008. For McLaren, the focus is on regrouping quickly and finishing strong, hoping to claim their first title since 1998.
