After a season of highs, heartbreaks, and hard-fought battles, Lando Norris has candidly admitted that even a flawless campaign wouldn’t have been enough to wrest the 2024 Formula 1 title away from Max Verstappen . Despite McLaren’s stunning mid-season resurgence, Norris believes the gap to Red Bull was simply too vast at the start of the year for any driver to overcome.
McLaren’s Rocky Start and Miraculous Recovery
The 2024 season began with McLaren trailing far behind the frontrunners. The MCL38 struggled to match the pace of Red Bull, Ferrari, and even Mercedes in the opening rounds. However, a game-changing upgrade package introduced at the Miami Grand Prix transformed the team’s fortunes. Norris claimed his maiden F1 victory and became a consistent threat to Red Bull’s RB20.
By season’s end, McLaren had ascended to the top of the Constructors’ Championship standings, but Verstappen had already clinched the Drivers’ title with two races to spare, leaving Norris reflecting on missed opportunities.
“We were the fourth-best team at the beginning of the year,” Norris said. “Red Bull has never been the fourth-best team. We had too big of a deficit to catch up.”
The Red Bull vs. McLaren Debate
While Verstappen has stated he could have won the championship earlier with McLaren’s car, Norris disagreed, pointing to Red Bull’s consistent competitiveness even during their supposed “low points.”
“Red Bull was never as uncompetitive as we were at the start,” Norris argued. “We made a huge leap forward, but their consistency and head start made the difference.”
Norris acknowledges his own mistakes throughout the season, but he remains proud of McLaren’s progress:
“No one else was there fighting him. It’s been me and McLaren, and I’m proud of that. Could we have done some things better? Yes. But even with a perfect season, I don’t think we could have won the championship.”
Eyes on 2025: A Fresh Start with Championship Ambitions
Despite falling short of the ultimate prize, Norris is optimistic about 2025. For the first time in years, McLaren will enter the season with a car they believe can fight for the championship from the very first round.
“Next year, we’re going into the season with a car we think we can win with from round one,” Norris said. “That’s something we haven’t had for six years. I’m excited for that.”
After securing his first three F1 victories in 2024, Norris is hungry for more. While finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship stings, he views it as a stepping stone for what’s to come:
“I’m happy to finish second. It’s not the ultimate goal, but it’s a sign of progress. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved this year.”
McLaren’s Next Chapter
As the dust settles on the 2024 season, McLaren has firmly established itself as a championship contender. With Norris at the helm and the promise of a competitive package in 2025, the Woking-based squad aims to take the fight to Red Bull and Ferrari from the outset.
The question remains: Can Norris and McLaren finally topple Verstappen’s dominance next year? The battle lines are drawn, and the F1 world is ready for another electrifying season.