Lando Norris bluntly declares 2024 title still Max Verstappen’s ‘to lose’
Lando Norris currently trails Max Verstappen by 59 points in the driver's standings.
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Lando Norris and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
With seven rounds to go before the conclusion of the 2024 season, the constructor’s championship is set to be won by McLaren. On the other hand, a tougher verdict awaits the drivers’ championship as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen are making a fierce run for the title. Despite McLaren‘s strong trend, the Brit trails Verstappen by 59 points and has a long way to go.
Lando Norris won his maiden Grand Prix in Miami and was seen as a future world champion. In the subsequent rounds, the Brit started making strides at Max Verstappen and soon began eating away at the Dutchman’s lead in the championship. Moreover, after the summer break, Norris’ world championship candidature required him to outscore Verstappen by eight points at every race weekend to win the championship in the last round in Abu Dhabi.
Though he was able to get the required points delta in Zandvoort and Monza, he failed to outscore Verstappen by a huge amount in Baku owing to his subpar qualifying. Witnessing the mammoth points difference that he has to overcome, the McLaren driver insisted that the driver’s title was still Verstappen’ to lose.
It's still for him to lose, not for me. I'm still the one that's got nothing to lose at the minute. Really it's only been the last two where I would say that they've been off the pace both a little bit in qualifying but also, and probably more so, the race itself. So I think people just need to look more specifically at what things are obvious and in front of them and not make judgements or general stuff.Lando Norris said in an interview as quoted by Motorsports
Norris explained that despite having a massive lead, if Verstappen loses the championship then it would be considered a title lost on the Dutchman’s camp. In his opinion, Red Bull still has the pace to get solid points out of the race weekends. On the contrary, if the 24-year-old loses the title then it would not be considered such a big loss as his championship charge began later in the season.
Lando Norris alleges rival teams utilizing loopholes in the regulations
Apart from this, the major headline from the Baku GP weekend was McLaren’s flexi-rear wing. Subsequently, rival teams hurled allegations at the Woking-based team for using illegal parts on the car. A ‘mini DRS’ effect was achieved by the bottom part of the DRS flap, reducing drag.
Despite such accusations, Norris defended the English team as he fired shots at rivals.
I think, in my opinion, there are so many rules, there are so many things in place, but teams, including us, are finding ways to just explore and look at different things other people have not thought of. But, as much as you might see us doing it, there’s still plenty of other teams doing it that you just don’t see on TV and maybe have not led a race, and you don’t see on certain cameras and stuff.Lando Norris said in an interview as quoted by PlanetF1
The 24-year-old asserted that teams try hard to find gray areas in the regulations. He then elucidated how McLaren is not alone in utilizing loopholes as Mercedes was earlier surfing the headlines with their flexible front wings. Thus, no team is innocent in the drama going on in the paddock, as Norris explained.
Apart from this, McLaren currently leads the constructor’s standings for the first time in over a decade. Moreover, with overwhelming pace over its rivals, the team could use Oscar Piastri as a rear-gunner to snub away points from the Dutchman and aid the Brit in his chase for the title.
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Geetansh Pasricha
(772 Articles Published)