This weekend in Abu Dhabi, Lando Norris has a chance to win his maiden Formula 1 world title. A second chance, actually, after his first match point in Qatar went awry as McLaren picked the wrong strategy.
The team may have overwhelmingly dominated the constructors’ championship, with 800 points to current runner-up Mercedes’ 459, but it is in more danger than ever in the drivers’ championship as a resurgent Max Verstappen challenges Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Here are the key moments when the current championship leader lost crucial points.
Saudi Arabian GP – Norris shunts out of qualifying
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Norris had potential in Jeddah, as shown by his fastest time in Q2, but he lost control of his MCL39 on the Turn 4 kerbs in his first Q3 attempt, which consigned him to 10th on the grid.
That meant he ran a recovery race to fourth position instead of battling title rivals Piastri and Verstappen, who finished first and second.
It is impossible to say how many points Norris lost, as nobody can predict how the race would have panned out had he not crashed at the start of Q3, but the swing in favour of Piastri could be up to 20 points.
Championship standings:
1. Oscar Piastri 99
2. Lando Norris 89
3. Max Verstappen 87
Canadian GP – Norris crashes into Piastri
Points swing vs Piastri: -10pts
Points swing vs Verstappen: -10pts
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
As George Russell, Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli locked out the podium positions, Piastri and Norris ended up squabbling over fourth place after qualifying third and seventh respectively.
On lap 66, Norris dived down the inside at the hairpin, but went too deep. Piastri got the inside line into the chicane, but Norris was close on the start/finish straight and got even closer with DRS; however, he misjudged the situation and rear-ended his team-mate.
Norris retired and lost 10 points, assuming he would have finished fifth behind Piastri.
Championship standings:
1. Oscar Piastri 198
2. Lando Norris 176
3. Max Verstappen 155
Dutch GP – Norris retires, Piastri pulls away in the championship
Points swing vs Piastri: -18pts
Points swing vs Verstappen: -21pts
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Although Piastri led the Dutch GP from start to finish, ending McLaren’s 27-year wait for a grand slam, the race was actually closely contested, as Norris shadowed his team-mate throughout.
That was, until he stopped on the side of the track with a plume of smoke emanating from the rear of his car; McLaren was elusive as to what the issue actually was.
Still, Norris lost the 18 points for second position, while Verstappen gained three as he inherited that very result.
Championship standings:
1. Oscar Piastri 309
2. Lando Norris 275
3. Max Verstappen 205
United States GP – Start kerfuffle takes both McLarens out of sprint
Points swing vs Piastri: 0pts
Points swing vs Verstappen: -7pts
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Polesitter Verstappen took the best getaway in the Austin sprint, with Norris briefly securing second place down the inside of Piastri in Turn 1; the Australian attempted to cut back but that meant his trajectory intersected Nico Hulkenberg’s, leading to a collision that took both McLarens out.
One might assume Norris would have retained second place over the duration of the sprint, hence a likely seven-point swing to Verstappen.
Championship standings:
1. Oscar Piastri 336
2. Lando Norris 314
3. Max Verstappen 281
Las Vegas GP – Fine margins make the difference post-race
Points swing vs Piastri: -6pts
Points swing vs Verstappen: -18pts
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images via Getty Images
While Verstappen dominated the Las Vegas GP, Norris and Piastri secured second and fourth in the race, enough to give the Briton a comfortable lead in the championship.
As it stood, Norris led Piastri by 30 points and Verstappen by 42.
Alas, both McLarens were disqualified due to the MCL39s’ rearmost skid blocks being too worn out, which meant the gap between Norris and both of his rivals was down to 24 points.
Championship standings:
1. Lando Norris 390
2. Oscar Piastri 366
3. Max Verstappen 366
Qatar GP – Strategy blunder means further points loss
Points swing vs Piastri: +4pts
Points swing vs Verstappen: -10pts
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Piastri led Verstappen and Norris in the early stages of the Qatar GP, but Hulkenberg’s clash with Pierre Gasly was a turning point.
The safety car neutralised the race at the exact time that cars could pit on the mandated two-stop strategy with a 25-lap cap on stints. McLaren opted against it, unlike everybody else, and lost out.
Piastri losing the win meant Norris actually conceded less ground than he might have done to his team-mate, but Verstappen is now closer than ever.
Championship standings:
1. Lando Norris 408
2. Max Verstappen 396
3. Oscar Piastri 392
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– The Autosport.com Team