After a disastrous Brazilian Grand Prix for Lando Norris, he has it all to do to win the drivers’ championship. Norris finds himself 62 points behind Max Verstappen, meaning he has to outscore the Dutchman in every event. Realistically, the 24-year-old needs the three-time world champion to DNF a couple of times in the final three races.
Starting from the pole in Brazil, the Brit finished in sixth, while championship rival Max Verstappen finished first after starting from the back of the grid. However, this could have been very different.
Mclaren pit wall blunders cost Lando Norris vital points
In Brazil, McLaren opted to pit Norris as the rain worsened, following in race leader George Russell. However, Verstappen and the two Alpine drivers stayed out. This was the correct strategy as it turned into safety car conditions. This safety car turned into a red flag when Colapinto put his Williams into the wall. This gave Max track position and he went on to win the race.
This is not the first time McLaren has made mistakes. Back in Canada, with Norris steaming ahead, he failed to pit under safety car conditions which cost him the win to Verstappen. In Briton, the team let Norris stay out a lap too long on a drying track and chose the wrong tyre compound.
He started from pole and ended up P6
Lando Norris reflects on his ups and downs at Interlagos#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/FKbq0y7XmL
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2024
The United States Grand Prix in Austin saw McLaren back their driver and push on rather than giving the place back to Verstappen. This Saw Norris receive a 5-second penalty, which cost him the podium. McLaren should have ordered their driver to hand the position back after he overtook his championship rival off-track. This way he could have had another opportunity to pass him legally.
However, it was in Hungary and Italy which cost the team dear. In the former, McLaren ordered the 24-year-old to let Oscar Piastri back through after they had undercut the Aussie with Norris, costing the Brit seven points.
In Monza, they let their drivers race, letting Piastri aggressively overtake Norris, which cost him a place to Charles Leclerc. The McLaren drivers then pushed their tyres, committing to a two-stop, when the one-stop strategy won the race for the Ferrari driver. All of these mistakes have cost Lando dear in his championship bid.
Can Lando Norris challenge for the WDC next year?
Although these mistakes cost Lando the Drivers’ Championship, McLaren is leading the Constructors’ Championship. So will Lando have another chance at the WDC next year?
McLaren on their side needs to learn from their mistakes this season. They have the fastest car overall this season but they need to utilise it. If they can, they will give Norris a great chance of securing his first title.
Lando himself does also need to improve. After securing pole positions this season seven times, he has lost the lead on six of the times. That record is not good enough for a future world champion. He also needs to learn how to race Max, after the pair clashed in Austria, Austin and Mexico. Improve on these, Norris could be right up there next season.
However, his teammate Oscar Piastri must be taken into account. The young Aussie has impressed many times this season. The 23-year-old has secured his first two race wins and sits fourth in the championship. Next season, he will not want to be a number two driver and will push himself for a shot at the title.
The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will fancy a bid at the title next season. Ferrari has a fast car and has improved on strategy calls. Leclerc has won races with a great turn of speed as well as correct strategies. Hamilton will be looking to add an eighth world championship and hopes a fresh setting will reignite his chances.
So there are a lot of variables going into the Championship battle for 2025. Do you think Lando Norris will be able to win the title next year? Post your thoughts on the comments section below.
