Lando Norris believes the 2024 Formula 1 championship was effectively decided after first six-races, long before he was in contention. But he remains proud of his efforts as he takes the battle to the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
After the Brazilian Grand Prix, Norris conceded that his outside shot at the title was mathematically over unless Max Verstappen encountered major misfortune. To stay in the championship fight after Las Vegas, Norris needed to outscore Verstappen by at least three points, then hope for a perfect run in the remaining races, including wins in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, along with fastest laps.
Despite qualifying behind Verstappen for the Las Vegas race, Norris remained focused on maximizing his own performance rather than worrying about the title outcome.
“Whether Max wins or not tomorrow, it won’t change anything for me,” Norris said. “He’s very likely to win the championship, but I’m here to race and do my best in every race. We’ll go out and try to beat Red Bull when we can.”
Norris reflected on his championship challenge, acknowledging that he lost it in early part of the season when Red Bull. And particularly Verstappen, built an insurmountable lead. “The first six races of the year were crucial. That’s when Max dominated and Red Bull was too far ahead. It was difficult to close the gap from there,” Norris admitted. “But I’m proud we brought it this far, and I’m happy it’s me fighting Max and not anyone else.”
Looking ahead, Norris shifted his focus to the upcoming race, where McLaren’s battle with Ferrari for the constructors’ championship lead remains pivotal. With the team aiming to retain its position, Norris highlighted the importance of tyre strategy, especially in managing the front tyres on McLaren’s MCL38.
“Our car has been more susceptible to graining on the softer compounds,” Norris explained. “We’ve struggled a lot with this issue, and that’s been a weakness throughout the season. But with the hard tyres, we’re hopeful things might click and give us more performance.”
As McLaren continues to refine its approach, Norris remains optimistic despite the challenges. “We’ll stay positive and look ahead to what we can achieve. It’s a long race, and we’ll do our best to secure a strong finish.”
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