The 2024 Formula 1 season delivered drama, heartbreak, and a fierce battle for supremacy, with Max Verstappen clinching his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship. Despite McLaren’s dominant pace and Red Bull’s struggles, Lando Norris fell short of his maiden title—a failure that Flavio Briatore attributes to a glaring issue: inexperience.
The outspoken Italian, known for his unfiltered opinions and storied (and controversial) F1 career, didn’t mince words when analyzing the Briton’s performance. While Norris showcased remarkable speed and talent, Briatore believes his lack of experience against a seasoned Verstappen ultimately cost him the title.
The Inexperience Factor: Norris’s ‘Problem’ Against Verstappen
“Norris’s problem compared to Verstappen this season was his inexperience,” Briatore remarked. “He is still young, maybe too young.”
At just 25, Norris faced the monumental challenge of taking on Verstappen, a driver in his prime with four consecutive championships under his belt. While McLaren’s superior pace should have tipped the scales in Norris’s favor, critical errors at key moments allowed Verstappen to hold his ground and secure the championship.
Briatore’s assessment points to Norris’s occasional mistakes during races as a decisive factor in his title loss. While Verstappen managed to extract every ounce of performance from a struggling Red Bull, Norris’s errors exposed a gap in maturity and racecraft under pressure.
McLaren’s Lessons and Norris’s Path to Redemption
Despite the heartbreak, McLaren’s 2024 campaign wasn’t a complete loss. The team reestablished itself as a dominant force, dethroning Red Bull from its constructors’ championship reign. Briatore believes this season’s learnings will be invaluable for both Norris and McLaren moving forward.
“Next year it might be better,” Briatore predicted. “The experience of this season can help in any case.”
For Norris, the task is clear: minimize errors and maintain consistency to capitalize on McLaren’s competitive edge. With a year of battling Verstappen under his belt, the Briton is poised to return stronger in 2025.
Red Bull’s Uphill Battle and Verstappen’s Title Defense
Meanwhile, Red Bull faces an uphill climb to regain its dominant form. Struggling with balance issues and underwhelming updates in 2024, the team now finds itself in an unfamiliar position: chasing the competition. Verstappen’s brilliance masked Red Bull’s shortcomings, but the team must address its performance woes to remain a title contender in 2025.
Adding to the challenge is the looming regulation changes for 2026, which will require Red Bull to split its focus between next season’s car and the long-term evolution of its designs. McLaren, with momentum on its side, appears ready to push Red Bull to the brink.
2025: A Battle for the Ages
As the F1 grid gears up for a new season, the stakes have never been higher. Norris, armed with lessons from 2024, will aim to dethrone Verstappen and claim his maiden championship. For Verstappen, the challenge lies in fending off a rising star while leading Red Bull through a critical period of recovery and adaptation.
With the grid tightening and major changes on the horizon, the 2025 season promises to be a thriller, pitting experience against youthful exuberance in a battle for Formula 1 supremacy.
