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The five races that won Max Verstappen – and lost Lando Norris – the 2024 F1 title

Umito November 25, 2024

Max Verstappen is world champion again, winning the 2024 F1 drivers’ title under the lights of Las Vegas on Saturday evening.

Verstappen’s fifth place, one place ahead of his nearest challenger Lando Norris, means the Dutchman has an unassailable lead with two laps remaining.

For many weeks it looked like Norris was about to launch an emotional title return, but unfortunately for the Briton and his McLaren team, it never fully came to fruition.

So where has Verstappen built his advantage? What races will Norris want back?

NOW, The Independent looks back at five key races in 2024 that led Verstappen to the title:

Chinese Grand Prix (April 19-21)

The fifth round of the 2024 season – as F1 returned to Shanghai for the first time in five years – was important for Verstappen and Norris in the wider season schism.

Verstappen won the sprint race and the grand prix and by such a margin that it was conceivable to many that another 2023-style season of dominance was on the horizon.

But it was also significant in that it showed the first signs of Norris in the lead: the Briton won pole in the sprint but, as was to become a regular pattern, a poor start saw him drop to seventh place. He finished second in the Grand Prix.

At this point, Verstappen had won four of the first five races. Red Bull were, once again, in control, with the Dutchman’s closest challenger being teammate Sergio Perez. Norris was already 52 points behind at this point.

But the course of the entire season was about to change.

Max Verstappen wins the Chinese Grand Prix, ahead of Lando Norris (Getty Images)

Spanish Grand Prix (June 21-23)

Two months later, the picture for the season looked altogether more dramatic and, much to the relief of all of us, more competitive.

Norris had taken his first F1 victory in round six at Miami, while Verstappen stubbornly took tough victories at Imola and Canada. Barcelona saw McLaren have a superior pace, with Norris starting on pole position.

Yet in a familiar story, Norris lost the lead at the start, dropping to third, and although he struggled in traffic, he finished 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen. It would be the first in a string of race victories that eluded the Bristolian and, in hindsight, key points that he could not afford to let slip away. Norris knew it, deep down too.

Spain would also mark Verstappen’s final victory until November.

Max Verstappen beats pole sitter Lando Norris in Spain (Getty Images)

Austrian Grand Prix (June 28-30)

A week later, Barcelona saw the first dramatic flashpoint of the 2024 season between the championship protagonists.

As Norris caught leader Verstappen in the closing stages, the two collided at the third corner of the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty but managed to finish the race in fifth, while Norris was forced to retire.

McLaren was furious. Their team principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown firmly pointed the finger at Verstappen and Red Bull. The touch paper was on.

But again, this marked a change of points in favor of Verstappen. On another day, this could have easily been a 25-point swing to Norris. Good margins, both on the track and in the championship race. It was also a sign of things to come when it came to stubborn car-to-car battles between the duo.

Norris and Verstappen collide in Austria (Getty Images)

United States Grand Prix (October 18-20)

Skip forward another four months and everything was still to play for.

Norris had won twice at Zandvoort and Singapore, but had seen potential victories at Silverstone, Budapest and Monza slip by. Verstappen, in a car that was regularly only fourth fastest, exceeded expectations in damage limitation mode. The gap was 52 points, with Norris in the lead thanks to an easy victory in Singapore.

The paddock therefore headed to Austin, with six races to go and numerous points at stake for the Briton. Yet while Ferrari moved into the top two spots, Norris and Verstappen battled intensely for third place.

Verstappen also got the better of Norris in Austin, Texas (Getty Images)

This battle represented the abyss of wheel-to-wheel driving. Verstappen defended heroically, terribly placing his car in the right place at the right time, while Norris worked hard and miscued behind.

The McLaren finally overtook Verstappen but illegally, off the track, and the Dutchman was awarded third place. Once again, Verstappen’s racing sense and experience proved to be assets.

Brazilian Grand Prix (November 1-3)

With just four races remaining, it was do or die for Norris on a horribly wet weekend in Sao Paulo.

However, after a stroke of luck during qualifying, Norris started on pole while Verstappen was all the way in 17th position. With a gap of 44 points, it was Norris’s moment to significantly reduce Verstappen’s lead.

But what happened instead was perhaps the best driving of the Red Bull driver’s life. He surged masterfully through the field, with exquisite expertise and precision in the rain, to win the race while Norris faltered, finishing only sixth.

This would be, in all but name, the title campaign.

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