The five races which won Max Verstappen – and lost Lando Norris – the 2024 F1 title
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Max Verstappen has secured the world champion title once more, winning the 2024 F1 drivers' championship amidst the dazzling lights of Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Verstappen's fifth-place result, just ahead of his nearest competitor Lando Norris, gives the Dutch driver an unbeatable advantage with two races remaining.
For several weeks, it appeared that Norris was on the verge of making an impressive comeback, but unfortunately for him and his McLaren team, it never quite happened.
Where did Verstappen gain his edge? Which races does Norris wish he could redo?
The Independent is now examining five crucial races from 2024 that propelled Verstappen to victory.
Chinese Grand Prix: April 19-21
The fifth round of the 2024 season marked an important moment for both Verstappen and Norris as Formula 1 made its return to Shanghai after a five-year absence. This race played a crucial role in the larger context of the season.
Verstappen triumphed in both the sprint race and the grand prix, showcasing a lead that had many speculating about the possibility of another season of overwhelming dominance similar to 2023.
However, it was also important as it marked the initial indication of Norris being among the leaders: he secured pole position during the sprint, but, as would often happen, a bad start caused him to fall back to seventh place. Ultimately, he crossed the finish line in second during the grand prix.
By this point in the season, Verstappen had claimed victory in four out of the first five races. Red Bull was comfortably in the lead, with Verstappen's nearest rival being his teammate, Sergio Perez. Meanwhile, Norris trailed significantly, sitting 52 points behind.
However, the entire trajectory of the season was on the verge of transformation.
Spanish Grand Prix: June 21-23 Dates
Two months later, the situation had become significantly more intense and, much to our relief, much more competitive.
Norris secured his first Formula 1 victory in the sixth race in Miami, while Verstappen fought hard to achieve challenging wins in Imola and Canada. In Barcelona, McLaren demonstrated impressive speed, with Norris taking the pole position at the start.
In a story we'd heard before, Norris fell behind right at the beginning, slipping to third place. Despite fighting his way through the pack, he ended the race 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen. This was the first of several lost opportunities for the Bristolian, and looking back, he realized how crucial those points were for him. He understood this truth on a deeper level as well.
Spain would also be the last time Verstappen would claim a victory until November.
Austrian Grand Prix: June 28-30
Just a week after the thrilling showdown between the championship contenders in Barcelona, the 2024 season took an exciting turn.
As Norris was closing in on the leader, Verstappen, they collided at turn three during the final moments of the race at the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen received a 10-second time penalty for the incident but still managed to cross the finish line in fifth place. Unfortunately, Norris had to pull out of the race.
McLaren was furious. Team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown blamed Verstappen and Red Bull directly. The tension had reached a boiling point.
Once again, it resulted in a shift of points that benefited Verstappen. On a different day, Norris could have easily gained 25 points instead. The differences are slim, both on the circuit and in the title competition. This moment also foreshadowed the intense battles we can expect to see between the two drivers.
United States Grand Prix: October 18-20
Fast forward another four months, and the situation was still wide open.
Norris had secured victories in Zandvoort and Singapore but had also missed out on opportunities to win in Silverstone, Budapest, and Monza. Meanwhile, Verstappen, driving a car that was often only the fourth-fastest, was surprisingly performing well under pressure. The points difference stood at 52, with Norris feeling confident following his smooth win in Singapore.
As the racing season moved to Austin, there were still six races remaining and many points available for the British driver. Meanwhile, Ferrari took the lead with their cars clinching the top two spots, while Norris and Verstappen fought fiercely for third place.
This clash showcased the gap in competitive racing. Verstappen fended off the challenge brilliantly, skillfully positioning his car precisely when it mattered, while Norris struggled and played catch-up behind him.
The McLaren eventually overtook Verstappen, but did so outside the boundaries of the track, leading to Verstappen being given third place. Once more, Verstappen's racing skill and experience proved to be advantageous.
Brazilian Grand Prix: November 1-3
With only four races remaining, it was a critical moment for Norris during an extremely rainy weekend in Sao Paulo.
After a lucky turn of events in qualifying, Norris found himself in pole position, while Verstappen was stuck back in 17th place. With a 44-point deficit, this presented a key opportunity for Norris to significantly reduce Verstappen's lead.
What happened next was likely the best performance of the Red Bull driver's career. He skillfully navigated through the pack, showcasing remarkable skill and accuracy in the rain, ultimately clinching the victory, while Norris struggled and ended up in sixth place.
It would practically be the drive that secures the championship title.
