Lando Norris’s chances of clinching the 2024 drivers’ championship are slipping away, as he now trails leader Max Verstappen by 62 points with only three races remaining. Despite starting from pole in Brazil, Norris ultimately finished P6, unable to hold off the charging field—a result that marks a challenging end to what has been a season of highs and lows for the British driver.
Norris has shown moments of brilliance throughout the season, winning three races and securing 12 podiums. But his inconsistency in critical moments, winning only twice out of seven pole positions, has been a notable factor in his current standings. Max Verstappen, on the other hand, has been relentless, stringing together dominant performances that have kept him comfortably in the lead.
Former F1 racer Johnny Herbert encouraged Norris to stay positive and learn from his title battles with Verstappen, noting that McLaren could come back stronger next season. “McLaren will learn for next year and have a stronger mindset,” Herbert said. “Lando will go into 2025 knowing he can beat Max. There are others too, like Oscar and George, who are only going to get stronger.”
While the championship is likely out of reach, Norris is focused on making the most of the final races for McLaren. After the race in Brazil, Norris expressed admiration for Verstappen’s impressive performance, even if he credited Verstappen’s victory to some good fortune with a timely red flag. This comment, however, stirred some controversy, as Verstappen’s fans took offense, mistaking Norris’s remarks as undermining the Dutchman’s win. In response, Norris clarified his frustrations were directed at the race circumstances, not Verstappen himself.
The friendship between Norris and Verstappen has endured the intensity of their rivalry, with both drivers showing mutual respect on and off the track. As the 2024 season winds down, Norris remains determined to finish strong, eyeing 2025 as another chance to challenge Verstappen for the ultimate prize.
