For the past few years, Max Verstappen has been dominating the world of Formula 1. In 2023, he won 19 out of 23 races. This year, however, he is not as dominant. McLaren driver Lando Norris has been putting up a fight for the top spot of the Drivers Championship.
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Norris beat Verstappen by 22.8 seconds. This was a huge deal since Verstappen has not been beaten to such an extent since 2021.
Both Norris and Verstappen are dominant racers, fighting for the top spot of the Formula 1 World Title. While their respective teams are fighting for the Constructors Championship, Norris is only 62 points behind Verstappen with eight races left. Norris’ team, McLaren, is only eight points behind Red Bull. This is astounding to Formula 1 fans because, at the same point last year, Red Bull was leading the Constructors Standings by more than 300 points.
The way that the scoring works for the Formula 1 Drivers Championship is simple. The drivers accumulate points after every race. Points are awarded to the top 10 finishers of every Grand Prix. 25 points are awarded to the winner, 18 to second place, 15 points to third, then “12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and a single point for the 10th-placed driver.” Currently, Verstappen has 303 points, and Norris has 241 points.
At the Dutch Grand Prix this year, Vertappen passed Norris in the first lap, even though Norris started at pole position; but by lap 18, Norris had put “the pace advantage of his McLaren to use,” regaining his lead for the rest of the race. There are a few other variables that contributed to Norris overtaking Verstappen. Norris said in an interview after the race that “a new rear wing probably helped me get past Max today.” It also doesn’t hurt that at the race in Miami, McLaren put a few new upgrades in the car, helping it become more of an “all-rounder able to compete at every type of circuit.”
In the days since the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen has become more vocal about his feelings towards his team’s car. Verstappen has not won the past six races, which is a stretch he has not seen in a while. At the Italian Grand Prix, which took place on Sept. 1, 2024, Verstappen finished in sixth place, two spots above his underperforming teammate Sergio Perez. Verstappen believes his car is “simply ‘not quick enough’ to contend for top spot.” Right now, Verstappen has stressed to the media that he believes his team should focus on themselves in hopes of making effective improvements to the car.
Other experienced drivers have also voiced their opinions on the situation, including seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who believes that it is possible for Norris to overtake Verstappen in points, but is going to need “some fortune” to overtake him.
With only eight races left in this Formula 1 season, it will be an intense fight for the top spot.
