Max Verstappen‘s path to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship is in jeopardy, according to former world champion Nico Rosberg, who believes Red Bull is terrified of McLaren‘s surge and Lando Norris‘ relentless charge toward the title.
With six races remaining in the 2024 season, Norris has slashed Verstappen’s once-unassailable lead to just 52 points, thanks to commanding victories in Zandvoort and Singapore. The championship battle has been reignited, leaving the Dutchman scrambling to maintain his edge before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
While second-place finishes in the remaining races would mathematically secure the title for Verstappen, Rosberg argues that this scenario is “almost impossible” given McLaren’s current pace—and Red Bull knows it.
“Red Bull is scared,” Rosberg said bluntly on Sky F1. “With McLaren’s speed, Lando could realistically win all the remaining races, and Max finishing second all the time? That’s so difficult, especially with Oscar Piastri in the mix, who has been doing an incredible job and will keep taking points away from Max.”
Rosberg’s warning has put Verstappen’s camp on high alert, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko admitting that second-place finishes alone won’t be enough. “Relying on always coming second, that is not enough,” Marko conceded, as the team braces for a high-stakes run to the end of the season.
“Norris Ready to Push the Title Fight to Abu Dhabi”
For Norris, the title race is heating up at just the right time. When asked about the possibility of the championship being decided in the final race, Norris remained coy but determined. “I can’t tell the future, but we’re working as hard as we can,” he said after his triumph in Singapore.
The British driver acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead, squaring off against the dominant force in modern F1. “It’s against Red Bull and it’s against Max—the most dominant pairing Formula 1 has ever seen,” Norris noted. “But we are doing a better job as a team right now because my car is quicker than theirs.”
Despite Norris’ optimism, Verstappen remains the benchmark in Formula 1. However, the combination of McLaren’s resurgence and Piastri’s rise has added a new layer of complexity to the championship, leaving Red Bull with little room for error.
With six races to go and momentum shifting, the question remains: can Lando Norris and McLaren pull off one of the greatest upsets in F1 history? If Rosberg’s prediction comes true, we could be in for a showdown like no other.
Photo from McLaren Instagram
