The 2024 Formula 1 season promises to be full of twists and turns. Max Verstappen, three-time reigning world champion, is going through a difficult period which could well cost him the quest for a fourth consecutive title.
Since his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, Max Verstappen has failed to return to the top step of the podium. Meanwhile, increasingly successful Lando Norris is closing the gap and threatening to shake up the hierarchy in F1.
However, the Red Bull driver seemed well on his way to winning again this year. Until his last victory in Barcelona, the Dutchman dominated the 2024 Formula 1 world championship.
However, Red Bull’s performance has deteriorated since then, and the team is struggling to find the right balance for its car. This decline offers Lando Norris a unique opportunity to shine. Currently 52 points behind Verstappen, the McLaren driver is gradually eating into his gap and could soon find himself in a position to take the lead in the standings.
A Schumacher-Räikkönen scenario in 2003?
If Red Bull fails to resolve his car’s problems quickly, Verstappen could face the same fate as Kimi Räikkönen in 2003. That season, the Finn got off to a flying start and seemed well on his way to winning his first world title. .
However, Michael Schumacher, then in difficulty at the start of the season, managed to reverse the trend. The German driver, nicknamed the “Red Baron”, rallied to catch up, finally winning his sixth title with just two points ahead of Räikkönen.
Norris ready to imitate Schumacher?
Today, Lando Norris could well follow in Schumacher’s footsteps. If McLaren continues its momentum and Red Bull remains unable to provide Verstappen with a competitive car, the Briton could find himself in a position to overtake his rival.
The challenge is daunting, but Norris’s development since the start of the season suggests the possibility of a turnaround in the situation at the very end of the championship.
As the F1 season nears its conclusion, all eyes are now on Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. This unexpected duel between the young McLaren prodigy and the three-time reigning world champion promises an exciting end to the season.
Is McLaren capable of taking the title from Red Bull? Can Norris make F1 history by imitating Michael Schumacher? The answer will be decided in the last races of the season.
