Lando Norris sends ‘awesome’ message to Max Verstappen after clinching the 2024 F1 championship

After 22 Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen clinched his fourth Formula 1 world championship ahead of McLaren star Lando Norris.

At the beginning of the 2024 campaign, Max Verstappen and Red Bull appeared to be in a position to continue their dominance of Formula 1 which saw them win all but one of last year’s Grand Prix.

Verstappen won seven of the first 10 Grand Prix, but it was obvious that the tide was changing before that.

McLaren started the year behind the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes before delivering a crucial update in Miami.

Lando Norris won the first race of his F1 career that weekend, and Verstappen congratulated Norris in Miami as he watched his friend finally achieve one of his dreams.

However, he was quickly wondering whether he had toasted the Brit too soon as McLaren quickly leapfrogged Red Bull in terms of raw pace, while Christian Horner’s team took a step backwards.

Ultimately, it became a two-horse race as Verstappen maximised every opportunity even when he didn’t have the quickest car.

Norris and Verstappen were split by 62 points with three race events left making the 25-year-old’s task extremely difficult before it became clear that McLaren simply didn’t have the pace to compete.

Lando Norris posts on social media after Max Verstappen wins the 2024 F1 championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

Norris could only qualify in P6 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a position behind Verstappen and once both drivers went side-by-side on the first lap and the Dutchman came out on top, it became obvious Norris didn’t have the pace to challenge his rival.

He was so far behind Verstappen that he pitted in the closing stages to secure the fastest lap with every point crucial in the Constructors’ Championship.

Norris congratulated Verstappen in the media pen in a touching moment between the two friends.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Even McLaren team principal Zak Brown joked with Verstappen about his championship win after their tough battle on and off the track.

Norris posted a dedicated message to Verstappen on Instagram and said: “Congrats on the 4th title in a row mate, awesome drive this year.

“Was fun fighting you for it. Feels like yesterday we took this pic in karting.”

Lando Norris is in a stronger position to win his first championship with McLaren in 2025

The trouble for Norris in his battle with Verstappen this season was that he was always playing catch up.

By the time he won his first race, Verstappen already had four victories under his belt, only dropping points when he retired in Melbourne.

The run of races at Imola, Montreal and Barcelona ultimately made the difference.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Norris had the faster car, but Verstappen was perfect at each event to hold off his rival and continue to extend his lead in the championship.

Even at races like the Dutch and Singapore Grand Prix where Norris dominated, Verstappen made sure he finished 2nd to reduce the damage done.

However, in 2025, McLaren should start the season in a much stronger position, meaning Norris may not have to think about reducing a deficit.

Work will be accelerating in every factory to work on next year’s car but all the top teams are converging at the front of the grid before the status quo is flipped on its head when the regulations change in 2026.