Can Lando Norris Catch Max Verstappen?

With the Singapore Grand Prix in the history books, Formula One takes another lengthy break before the racing action returns in Austin, Texas with Free Practice One on 18^th October.

It gives F1 fans a chance to take further stock after another dominant Lando Norris victory brought the Brit to within 52 points of reigning champion Max Verstappen; it would have been 51 had Daniel Ricciardo not stolen the fastest lap off Norris despite sitting in 18^th position.

The question on most people’s minds though will be whether Norris has enough races left to catch and overtake Verstappen in the driver’s standings?

Momentum with McLaren

There is no doubt that McLaren are now the team to beat. The Woking outfit have been on the top step of the podium in four of the last six races, with Sir Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc taking victories in Belgium and Italy. The most remarkable aspect of those past six races, even extending back eight races, is that Max Verstappen has not taken a race win in any of them. Despite the lack of race wins, Norris has only managed to outscore Verstappen on a Sunday in five of those eight races, also suffering a potentially fatal DNF in Austria after the two title contenders came to blows at the top of turn three.

Although Verstappen is doing about enough to keep Norris at arm’s length, there is no doubt that the momentum is with the McLaren team. After a double podium for McLaren in Singapore, the papaya outfit now lead Red Bull by 41 points in the constructor’s championship. While many feel that the current wave of results can carry McLaren comfortably to the constructor’s title, especially with Sergio Perez’s struggles in the sister Red Bull, the projections of betting sites in Canada will be focusing on whether Norris has enough races to bridge the gap to Verstappen and leave the Dutchman empty-handed for the first time in four seasons.

Piastri to play a big part

With six races of the season left, the clock is ticking on Norris’ chances of winning his first world championship. Should Norris and Verstappen finish 1^st and 2^nd in the remaining races, and if Norris bags the fastest lap point in each of those races, Norris will fall four points short of the three-time world champion. While there are still three vital sprint races to come in Austin, Sao Paulo and Qatar, the same scenario of Norris leading Verstappen over the line in each will result in Norris falling an agonizing one point off Verstappen.

While there is always the potential for the dramatic in Formula One, the cars have been as reliable as ever this season. Therefore, could the difference maker be Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri? The Australian has been a revelation this season taking two wins so far in Hungary and Azerbaijan. The 23-year-old is in fine form and McLaren and Norris will need Piastri to continue that to take as many points off Verstappen as possible.

After a tense and uncomfortable episode in Hungary, where Norris was seemingly going to defy team orders and take the win over his teammate before backing down and letting Piastri back through, the status quo seems to have been restored, with McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella, also announcing that the team would favor Norris on 50-50 calls. Piastri is 94 points behind Verstappen and not considered a contender for the title, meaning McLaren are putting their chips in the Norris basket.

With Sergio Perez still struggling badly in the second Red Bull, a two versus one battle out front will lead many to believe that Norris can stage a fightback and overtake Verstappen in the standings. The British driver should arguably be closer to the Dutchman, if not for poor team and driver decisions earlier in the season, notably in Canada and Great Britain.

With that said, many will feel Red Bull are there for the taking. With the recent confirmation of design wizard Adrian Newey’s departure to Aston Martin, an ailing car that has not won a race in eight Grand Prix, and a disgruntled, perhaps slightly demoralized Max Verstappen, McLaren and Norris will certainly believe they can secure both championships come the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi.