McLaren’s Momentum: Lando Norris Shines as the 2024 F1 Title Race Heats Up

Lando Norris may not be renowned for his race starts, but he’s quickly becoming known for his impressive finishes. At the Netherlands Grand Prix, Norris claimed the top spot on the podium, finishing over 22 seconds ahead of hometown favorite Max Verstappen. While his start left much to be desired, Norris’s strong finish suggests that his Achilles’ heel might be more about his starts than his race-craft. With nine Grands Prix and three Sprints remaining in the 2024 season, Norris will need to ensure his starts don’t hold him back as he pushes for more victories.

McLaren’s recent upgrades have proven that patience pays off. Though the changes to the floorboard aren’t immediately visible, the new rear wing and beam wing were clearly effective, along with other smaller changes, contributing to Norris’s victory. Even Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, couldn’t resist taking a closer look at McLaren’s upgrades in Parc Fermé. McLaren’s strategic updates this year, first in Miami and now in the Netherlands, have resulted in two of their three wins this season.

Norris is currently 70 points behind the reigning world champion, making the Drivers’ Championship an intriguing prospect. It’s fair to say that Lando Norris could contend for a World Championship, if not this year, then certainly in 2025. He’s found the right mindset, has a competitive car, and is supported by a team that’s firing on all cylinders. While it would take a lot for Max Verstappen to miss out on his fourth Drivers’ World Championship this year, the unpredictable nature of this season leaves the door open for surprises.

McLaren trails Red Bull by just 30 points in the Constructors’ Championship, with Ferrari not far behind, only 64 points adrift. The title race is far from decided, and it’s still anyone’s game. Ferrari’s recent performance at Zandvoort, where they secured a surprising third-place finish, has added another layer of excitement to the battle for the top spot. Who do you think is going to take this years Driver’s Championship? Who do you think will take the Constructors Championship?  We’re getting even closer to finding out, with the next race this weekend in Italy at Monza. 

In 2021, McLaren secured five podiums, including a win at Monza. In 2022, they managed only one, but after a challenging start to the 2023 season, they bounced back with nine podium finishes—a number they’ve already surpassed this year with 13 podiums shared between Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Piastri, now in just his second year in Formula One, has shown remarkable growth, raising the question of when he might contend for a World Championship. While that may be a consideration for the future, a more immediate question for the 2024 season is: Will Oscar Piastri secure another win before the season’s end? And with a solid understanding of how their car performs across various tracks, what should McLaren prioritize for the remainder of the season?