For the first time since the summer break in 2021, we have unanswered questions as to who might win the 2024 FIA Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. Back then it was an ill-tempered back-and-forth between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen that ended in extraordinary fashion after Michael Masi’s unprecedented intervention during the last few laps of the season’s finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix handed the Dutchman the championship.
Since then, Verstappen has been prolific and unstoppable, winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. But there is a growing degree of doubt as to whether the 26-year-old will make it four titles in a row to emulate what Sebastian Vettel did for the energy drink team.
For Formula 1 fans, this wholly unexpected subplot that has arisen between Verstappen and Lando Norris will be received as manna from heaven and it might not need a major miracle to see the Red Bull driver’s 78-point lead whittled away during the second half of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
So, can Norris catch Verstappen and become the 2024 world champion?
What do the odds say?
The latest odds on the winner of the Drivers’ Championship open the door to the possibility but still tip Verstappen to win his fourth consecutive title. At least, at 2/7, the Dutchman is still very much seen as the 2024 champion in waiting…
Norris’ higher odds of 9/2 reinforce the idea that Verstappen has a big enough lead heading into the final 10 races of the season. However, the context that is needed here is that Norris began the 2024 season at 14/1 to win the title. In other words, the British driver is rapidly trending in the right direction.
Fans who think that Norris can haul Verstappen in can access these new customer betting offers from the best bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Bookies such as Bet365, Betano, and Kwiff are offering as much as £30 in free bets that can be used on the 2024 Drivers’ Championship outright winner market.
The reality is that Norris is attracting significant betting interest with the season finely poised. Away from the latest prices in the 2024 Drivers Championship, again, the question is, can the Bristol-born Norris do it?
The short answer might be no, but we must always remember that anything is possible…
McLaren unprepared for title fight
The reason for backing Verstappen to win the 2024 title has less to do with the speed of the Red Bull and more to do with the inexperience of both Norris and McLaren. In fact, it’s highly likely that Norris will be competing in a faster car than Verstappen over the last 10 races of the season.
Faster, however, doesn’t always mean first; not against an opponent like Verstappen who is more than willing to get his elbows out and crucially, superior speed can’t compensate for poor pit wall decisions and crippling nerves.
To that end, McLaren are likely to regret their decision to issue team orders that allowed Oscar Piastri to win the Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of Norris, especially if the latter loses the championship by only a handful of points.
Although the Surrey-based team has publicly defended its decision, there will likely be considerable frustration behind closed doors given how the season has unfolded since. The main takeaway from this inexplicable situation at the Hungaroring is that by not allowing Norris to win and close the gap on Verstappen, McLaren revealed they didn’t genuinely believe they were in a title fight with the Dutchman.
Norris feels the heat
McLaren aren’t the only one at fault though. Being in the conversation about winning the championship saw Norris immediately make an uncharacteristic mistake just seconds after the Belgian Grand Prix started as the driver went wide and dropped down to seventh having started in fourth.
Norris came out quickly after the Spa-Francorchamps showdown to say that he needed a reset over the summer to help eliminate the mistakes that have crept into his driving since closing the gap on Verstappen.
What this essentially tells us is that this unfamiliar position Norris finds himself in, as the official challenger to Verstappen, is seeing him make unforced errors. One can only surmise that it is due to pressure. This is a rite of passage though for any driver cutting their teeth in their first race for the championship; mistakes will be made but they will serve to benefit in the long run.
2025 and beyond for Norris
For now, it does just feel as if McLaren and Norris are not yet equipped with the experience needed to capitalise on the promising situation they find themselves in. The encouraging news is that this probably won’t be the case in 2025 which might be the year Formula 1 sees a much-needed changing of the guard.
