Written by Lucrezia Marano, Edited by Madison Cooper
The 2024 Formula One season was a defining year for many drivers, with Lando Norris one of the most exciting talents on the grid.
Throughout the season, he fought for the World Championship with Max Verstappen, who has been supreme in the sport over the past few years.
However, being an outsider this year, the experience in 2024 has been great for Norris, and it could be fundamental in his chase for a championship over the coming years.
Max Verstappen arguably represents the most complete F1 driver of the modern era; consistency under pressure, ability to get the most out of his car and strategy management are things that Norris can look upon and learn from. However, what could he learn and practice ahead of the next season?
Making the Most of Every Opportunity
One of Verstappen’s standout qualities is his ability to maximize every opportunity. In 2024, he was virtually unbeatable, making the most out of any situation, whether that be a strategic advantage or an unexpected race incident.
In comparison, Norris, while highly talented, is still learning how to consistently turn every possible opportunity into a race win or valuable points.
The key for Norris will be learning to take full value from each circumstance. It is not just about winning when he's in the best car; it means he finds ways when the races aren’t necessarily in his favour.
So often in niggly conditions, when a race is thrown into chaos, this is when Verstappen seizes things; meanwhile, Norris tends to have sometimes struggled to shine in imperfect situations.
Watching Verstappen in these situations, as he handles them calmly and precisely, could help Norris become a more versatile and consistent competitor.
Racecraft and Positioning
Verstappen’s racecraft is exemplary, especially in how he manages positions at critical junctures of a race.
Whether defending his place or making an aggressive overtake, Verstappen has mastered the balance between calculated risk and opportunism.
Lando Norris has shown impressive racecraft, but in a head-to-head championship battle, it's clear that Verstappen's understanding of when to push and when to defend plays a massive role in his dominance.
Norris can learn from the fact that Verstappen tends to make decisive moves at the very beginning of the race, thereby often setting the tone for the entire weekend. Verstappen leaves little on the table.
As hard as he may be able to defend positions in the opening lap or two, he can press to move toward the front. Sometimes, Norris errs on the side of caution and tries to play the long game.
By learning to strike earlier and make calculated moves when opportunities arise, he will be better placed to remain ahead or even move up as the pressure cooker of a tight fight for the championship starts reaching its boiling point.
Psychological Resilience Under Pressure
Mental games are among the most challenging things in the championship battle. Max Verstappen built his reputation on never looking bothered when the pressure bears down on him.
Whether dealing with a late-race challenge, fighting against poor weather conditions or mistakes by his team, mental strength proved to be one of Verstappen’s biggest strong points.
Rarely is he seen fazed; his focus is sharp during the most intense moments of the race.
By contrast, Norris is still developing his mental toughness. Throughout his career, there have been times when frustration or uncertainty has appeared to flash across his face, especially when the race results have not gone entirely his way.
If Norris is to challenge Verstappen for a championship in 2025 and beyond, he will have to develop mental strength.
A consistent focus on keeping his cool under pressure and learning to recover from setbacks will be necessary if he hopes to match Verstappen's success.
Strategic Mastery and Team Communication
Generally, Max Verstappen has spoken candidly with his team, allowing him to make vital decisions (such as tyre strategy) at the drop of a hat.
Throughout, Verstappen has done a fantastic job of gathering information from his team and making sense of it for immediate translation. This capability combines well with long-term strategic decisions, giving him that special edge in closely run battles.
While highly skilled in executing race strategies, Norris has sometimes appeared less adept at making pivotal race calls on his own, especially during complex strategy situations.
Developing a stronger rapport with his engineers and understanding when to take the reins on strategy could elevate Norris’ performance.
Additionally, reading the race and anticipating what’s coming next is a skill Verstappen has mastered—something Norris can certainly work on in 2025.
Confidence to Challenge Verstappen
The most salient takeaway for Norris from his 2024 championship battle might be that he requires the belief he can win it. Yes, Norris has been super competitive this year, but at all times, Verstappen has remained a step ahead.
Norris can close the gap between himself and the Dutchman by maintaining confidence in his abilities, pushing his limits and continuing to develop his driving style.
There have been races in 2024 where Norris has shown flashes of brilliance, but he must learn to replicate those moments under constant pressure.
For Norris to go into 2025, he has to have the mindset of a potential world champion- one who believes that, in the right conditions, he can not only challenge Verstappen, but also beat him. That kind of self-confidence is necessary for further development as a driver.
Conclusion
Lando Norris was pushed more than ever in 2024 as he took on Max Verstappen in a season that will shape his career.
Considering where Verstappen was particularly strong - improving the situation to maximum effect, his racecraft, mental resilience and making the right strategic decisions on the track - will help Norris identify the areas where he needs to work harder.
That is a good lesson from this fight for the championship, and sharpened by this, 2025 might be the year full of expectations for Lando Norris to take that next leap toward the Formula 1 World Championship.
留言