After a convincing victory for Lando Norris at the Dutch Grand Prix, the question arises: Can the Englishman beat rival Max Verstappen in the championship race? With nine races left on the calendar, he has ample time to bridge the current gap. But what does Norris need to do to definitively surpass Verstappen and crown himself champion?
The first race weekend after the summer break was a celebration for Lando Norris, who steered his McLaren to victory during the Dutch Grand Prix. On Saturday, he had already outperformed rival Max Verstappen, if not for the home hero overtaking him in the first corner of the race. However, the superior speed of McLaren soon handed Norris the victory. The gap to Max Verstappen – who settled for second place – was a whopping 22.9 seconds, the largest margin since Charles Leclerc’s victory in Australia in 2022.
This victory puts Norris seventy points behind Verstappen with nine races to go. A significant gap, it’s important to note that the Dutchman has scored more points than his British competitor since his last victory at the Spanish Grand Prix. What does Norris need to do to bring the driver’s title to Woking?
How Can Lando Norris Snatch the Title from Max Verstappen?
To answer this question, one must first look at the point distribution in Formula 1. It has remained unchanged since 2019; winning a Grand Prix yields twenty-five points, the second place eighteen, the third fifteen, and so on. The fastest lap time earns an extra point, provided you finish in the top ten. However, in 2024, three sprint races will also be organized. The winner of the Saturday race gets eight points, the second seven, the third six, and so on.
If Lando Norris wins every Grand Prix from now on and Max Verstappen comes second, the title will still go to the Dutchman. The difference lies in the sprint races and the fastest lap time. If Norris wants to outperform his rival, he must also win all sprint races and at least five times drive the fastest lap time. Even if Verstappen consistently comes second in this scenario, Norris wins the championship with a one-point difference.
With McLaren’s current form, it could still become exciting, although everything must fall exactly into place for Norris to actually become champion. If he eventually comes second, it is to be hoped that the gap is larger than seven points. In Hungary, he let the victory pass him by for the benefit of teammate Oscar Piastri. That cost Norris seven World Championship points.
