Lando Norris has been a revelation this season, delivering three stunning victories and securing 11 podiums to date. His recent triumph at the Singapore Grand Prix showcased the McLaren driver’s tenacity as he clinched his third win of the season in commanding fashion, leading from start to finish. With just six races remaining, Norris finds himself trailing Max Verstappen by 52 points in the championship standings—and he believes the gap can still be closed.
Norris’s resurgence post-summer break has been nothing short of spectacular. Previously criticized for failing to convert pole positions into wins, Norris’s emphatic victory in Singapore shattered the notion that he couldn’t seal the deal when it mattered most. Now, with Verstappen’s recent struggles, Norris has set his sights firmly on the title, confidently declaring, “It’s definitely possible.”
McLaren’s MCL38 has outperformed much of the grid in raw speed, giving Norris a realistic shot at catching Verstappen. With the next showdown in Austin looming, Norris is poised to deliver another high-stakes performance, with his team working tirelessly to maximize their competitive edge.
However, not everyone is sold on Norris’s flawless execution. Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg has been quick to point out some of the cracks in Norris’s Singapore performance, highlighting a series of near-misses that could have ended in disaster. Rosberg noted that Norris had a significant out-braking moment at a hairpin, veering miles off the track and narrowly avoiding the barriers. In another instance, he clipped the same wall that had claimed George Russell the previous year, and later, he ran wide while lapping a Williams.
“He went miles off track in a hairpin—it wasn’t just a small mistake, it was a massive out-braking,” Rosberg said. “And then he hit the same wall where Russell crashed last year. Plus, when passing a backmarker, he went off track again.”
Despite these missteps, Norris’s pace and determination have been undeniable. His occasional shakiness while leading races may raise concerns for McLaren, but there’s no doubt that the 24-year-old has the skill and speed to challenge Verstappen for the title. With both drivers hungry for glory, the final six races promise a thrilling battle that could go down to the wire, setting up a dramatic conclusion to the 2024 F1 season.
