With only six races left in the 2024 Formula One season, the world championship battle is set to be intense, featuring two triple-headers as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris vie for the title. However, the final stretch won’t start for another three weeks, a period that could be crucial as both teams push towards the end. For McLaren, this is a time for fine-tuning, but for Red Bull, the focus is on finding solutions to their car’s issues.
The next race, the US Grand Prix in Austin, is scheduled for October 20, following an unusual late-season break. Unlike the traditional summer shutdown, where personnel are prohibited from working, this break is simply a long gap between races, during which teams will continue to work intensely to gain an edge.
The final six races will be held over just eight weeks, all far from home: Austin, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Developing the car on the fly will be challenging. The title contenders must hope their cars are competitive from the start in Austin.
Norris enters this break on a high, having dominated in Singapore and reducing Verstappen’s lead to 52 points. With a maximum of 180 points still available, Norris needs to outscore Verstappen by nearly nine points per race. While he acknowledges that the title is still Verstappen’s to lose, he believes McLaren’s recent form gives him a chance.
Since the Miami GP, McLaren has introduced a series of upgrades that have significantly improved their car’s performance. The car is now the class of the field, outperforming the Red Bull that Verstappen steered to seven victories in the first ten races. McLaren’s focus on the floor, a critical component in current ground effect cars, has paid off, and they have introduced only minor changes since their last major upgrade.
Red Bull, on the other hand, is still struggling with their car, which Verstappen has described as “a monster.” The car lacks balance, making it difficult to drive. The team principal, Christian Horner, has described their efforts to solve the issue as “a vicious circle.” Verstappen’s second-place finish in Singapore was a good result, but they need the car to be competitive for the final stretch.
The break will also be an opportunity for Liam Lawson to settle in with his new RB team, having replaced Daniel Ricciardo after the Singapore GP. Lawson, a Red Bull reserve driver, has been considered a potential replacement for Sergio Pérez next season. His promotion was announced, but the team’s handling of Ricciardo’s departure was poorly managed, leaving him without a proper send-off at the track.
