Max Verstappen had a surprising 2024 season to say the least with total domination over the first ten races before fighting fiercely to obtain the coronation.
If you left the 2024 Formula 1 season on the evening of the Spanish GP, tenth round of the season, you must be surprised. Indeed after ten races, the outcome of the season was not really in doubt. The triple world champion, Max Verstappen (27), crushed the competition with seven victories in the first ten races, despite a rotten start to the season due to the Horner affair, and we didn't really see what could disturb him.
But this competition showed its teeth after Spain. And the Red Bull, an evil car since 2021, has lost its liveliness. From Austria, things got worse with fast McLarens and Mercedes sharing the victories until the summer break. However, despite a performance deficit, Verstappen limited the damage with a podium in Great Britain and valuable points collected in Hungary and Belgium. But the Batavian, aware of the opponents' progress, was not fooled and was waiting for a rebound after the break in the Netherlands on his home soil.
Norris put pressure on him
But in the land of Oranje, it was an orange car that shone. That of Lando Norris. On the king's land, the Briton marched on the race, sending a strong signal, and completely relaunching interest in the championship. Back at 70 points, Norris had become Verstappen's number one rival. Championship restarted because Red Bull was no longer dominant. It had even become the fourth force on the field behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes. The situation had changed and Verstappen now had to defend his advantage. A novelty.
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In difficulty in Italy and Azerbaijan but second in Singapore, Verstappen even saw Norris come back to 52 points behind him with seven rounds of the season. The gap was widening in terms of performance between the cars. So much so that Norris even became the favorite for the world title for some observers. But the Briton, a neophyte in this battle for the title, was also a victim of the great performances of Ferrari and Mercedes who grabbed precious points from him to further falter the Batavian glutton.
Brazil to knock out, Las Vegas for the coronation
While we imagined a finish worthy of 2021 with a fight for the coronation in the last race in Abu Dhabi, the situation would change during the American tour. Despite a better car, Norris missed out in Austin and conceded five points to Max Verstappen before regaining 10 in Mexico the following week. The Dutchman therefore headed to Brazil, with four rounds remaining, with a 47-point lead over Norris and still a crumbly car compared to the competition.
But in Sao Paulo, Verstappen was 17th on the grid and Norris on pole. The championship could change. It was then that the champion released a magical run. That few pilots can deliver. In wet conditions, the Dutchman gave a master class to the field to win by a significant margin despite a 17th place on the grid and a less efficient car. A championship race which plunged the Briton into depression, pushed back to 62 points and clearly stunned by the Brazilian episode.
Verstappen then only had to finish the job and he did it in style on the night of Las Vegas at the following Grand Prix. Fifth at the finish just ahead of Norris, the Dutchman was therefore crowned for the fourth time in a row in the middle of the casinos. A title acquired with difficulty which will be a landmark in his career as Verstappen has had to face numerous adventures this season (Horner affair, loss of performance, penalties) but the Batavian (62 victories in 207 races, 111 podiums and 40 poles) was intractable. He can now enjoy the last two meetings in Qatar and Abu Dhabi before looking ahead to 2025 for the final five.
