The 2024 Formula 1 season delivered some unbelievable races and ended with Max Verstappen as world champion.
For the fourth consecutive year, Max Verstappen topped the Drivers’ Championship but he felt the most pressure since his maiden victory in 2021.
After 10 races, Verstappen had already won seven Grand Prix, but he and nobody else saw the Dutchman going on a run where he would only win two more races before the end of the season.
Instead, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes were suddenly competitive enough to win races in complete contrast to last season when Red Bull won every race except for in Singapore.
Six drivers alongside Verstappen ended up winning multiple races, with only his teammate Sergio Perez unable to stand on the top step of the podium from the top four manufacturers.
Lando Norris ended up finishing as runner-up to Verstappen after winning the final race in Abu Dhabi.
The pressure was on the young Brit after Verstappen took out his teammate Oscar Piastri in the battle to win the Constructors’ Championship.
Martin Brundle was unhappy with Verstappen’s verdict on his penalty, but it made life much more difficult for McLaren, even if Verstappen apologised to Piastri after the race.
If Norris had made a single mistake, then Ferrari were ready to pounce with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc running immediately behind him.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 (8/12 2:59pm), former world champion Nico Rosberg and Danica Patrick both suggested that Norris is their ‘favourite’ to win the title in 2025.
It’s too early to know whether McLaren will still have the fastest car after the winter, but with the ruleset not set to change until 2026, they’ve put themselves in the best position possible to try and win two titles next year.
Nico Rosberg makes Lando Norris favourite to win the 2025 Formula 1 world championship
Talking about next year, Patrick said: “I feel like from Silverstone on you can really see that leap.
“Of course, once the drivers started getting their wins this year, I think that both Lando and Oscar will [have] learned so much this year, so much success came all of a sudden.
“I truly think that it’s McLaren’s year next year and I really do think Lando… I mean he’s my pick!”
READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
Host Simon Lazenby then asked: “He’s your pick, is he your pick as well, Nico on the evidence of what we’ve seen this year?”
Rosberg replied: “Absolutely! Lando is my pick for driver’s world champion next year and he showed it again today, he’s driving so brilliantly, he’s the favourite!”
Lando Norris’ best chance of becoming an F1 world champion must be next season
After six years driving for McLaren, Norris has some career-defining silverware to take with him back to Woking after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
A Constructors’ Championship title in such a tight season is no mean feat and needed Norris and Piastri to take full advantage of the pace of their cars.
However, Norris will know that 2025 represents a brilliant opportunity to go one better in the driver’s standings.
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
Martin Brundle has told Norris to take advantage of Verstappen and George Russell’s spat which may continue into next season.
A distracted Verstappen might be the easiest Verstappen for Norris to beat, but getting on his nerves never works well.
He’s a formidable competitor and that’s before you consider the combination of drivers who will be turning out for Ferrari next year.
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