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Lando Norris: The Mission to End 2024 on a High and Gear Up for 2025 Glory

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Lando Norris: The Mission to End 2024 on a High and Gear Up for 2025 Glory

Nov 23, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; McLaren Formula 1 Team driver Lando Norris of Great Britain (4) drives during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the Las Vegas Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

With the Formula 1 world championship now firmly in Max Verstappen’s hands, Lando Norris has seen his title hopes for 2024 extinguished. Yet, for the McLaren star, the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain critical. Norris has an opportunity not just to refine his skills and cement McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship standing but to build a psychological edge ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 season.


A Vegas Breakthrough and a Glimpse of Potential

Las Vegas wasn’t just the venue where Verstappen secured his fourth title—it also marked an important personal breakthrough for Norris. Despite a challenging weekend for McLaren, Norris unlocked a previously untapped level of performance in his MCL38.

On his second stint of hard tires, Norris adjusted his approach, aggressively pushing the car beyond its limits to counter its long-standing issue of front tire graining on low-downforce tracks. This move saw him nearly match the pace of Lewis Hamilton in a similar stint, showcasing Norris’s ability to adapt mid-race.

“Lando tried something extreme,” McLaren team boss Andrea Stella revealed. “And it worked!”

This newfound adaptability could be a game-changer. It offers a glimmer of hope that McLaren might finally address its Achilles’ heel—graining issues that have haunted the team for years. For Norris, it was a moment of growth, demonstrating his evolution as a driver capable of extracting every ounce of performance from his car, even under challenging conditions.


The Fight for Momentum

The final rounds of 2024 are more than just a conclusion—they are a critical proving ground for Norris. While Verstappen will aim to end the season with 10 wins, Norris must assert his dominance within McLaren and lay the groundwork for 2025.

This is particularly vital as McLaren has lifted its “Papaya Rules,” allowing Oscar Piastri to challenge Norris head-on. Piastri has already proven himself a formidable competitor, delivering standout performances in Hungary and Monza. If Norris wants to maintain his status as McLaren’s de facto leader, he must outperform Piastri in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

“I’m very proud of how rapidly Lando is picking up from the situations he experiences on track,” Stella noted. “He’s becoming a better and better driver.”


The Constructors’ Battle: A Team Effort

McLaren’s fight against Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship adds another layer of urgency to Norris’s mission. With just a 24-point lead over Ferrari, every decision and every lap will count. McLaren’s willingness to sacrifice a stint for Norris to secure the fastest lap in Las Vegas highlights the razor-thin margins at play.

Should Norris win in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari falters, McLaren could cement its position as the second-best team of the season—an achievement that would validate its rapid development in 2024 and set a strong foundation for the next campaign.


Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future

History shows the power of finishing a season strong. Verstappen’s 2020 Abu Dhabi win propelled him into his 2021 title campaign with confidence. Similarly, Nico Rosberg’s fiery finish to 2015 ignited his successful 2016 championship bid. For Norris, a dominant end to 2024 could serve as the springboard he needs to challenge Verstappen and Ferrari’s new driver lineup in 2025.

“I’ll probably look back on a lot in 20 or 30 years—that I fought such a driver,” Norris said of Verstappen. “But I also look back at the wins we had this year in Miami, Zandvoort, and Singapore.”


What’s at Stake?

The stakes couldn’t be higher for Norris. With McLaren’s expected competitiveness in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, he has the tools to fight for victories. But it’s about more than just points—it’s about sending a message. Norris needs to demonstrate that he can rise to the occasion, outclass Piastri, and show Verstappen that the fight in 2025 will be different.

This season might not have ended with a title, but Norris has shown growth, resilience, and flashes of brilliance. As McLaren prepares for a multi-team title battle next year, the lessons learned in 2024 will be pivotal. For Lando Norris, the final two races aren’t just a conclusion—they’re a launchpad.

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