Has Lando Norris’ moment finally arrived?

Lando Norris has been on the verge of Grand Prix greatness for some time now. His journey to the front of the field hasn’t been a straightforward upward trend, though. There’s been crushing lows, moments of elation, and times when his undeniable natural talent went unrewarded. These experiences have shaped him both on and off the track over the past five seasons.

A first victory has eluded him, ever since that fateful day at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, but he has waited patiently and bided his time. Now, in 2024, with a reinvigorated McLaren Racing squad around him, Lando appears the most credible threat to the indomitable Max Verstappen who, for the first handful of races, looked set to romp to a fourth straight title.

READ MORE: TOP FIVE LANDO NORRIS HIGHLIGHTS AT 100 RACES

The 2023 season

During the second half of the 2023 season, Lando Norris went on a tear unlike any in his F1 career thus far.  Seven podiums from 11 races, including a particularly special second-place finish at the British Grand Prix, was his best run of results to date, so it was natural to expect even more from the coming season.

WATCH: A BRITISH GRAND PRIX HOMECOMING TO REMEMBER

The 2024 season

The opening two races of 2024 were something of an anti-climax compared to the heights of 2023. On paper, McLaren was the fourth fastest team behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. A podium in Australia for Lando hinted at what was to come, but a second-place finish in China signalled a very real turning point in the season.  

READ MORE: Lando Norris' 2024 season so far

The Miami Grand Prix

Like many teams, McLaren brought significant upgrades to the Miami Grand Prix and the downforce-refining components delivered more pace than many were expecting. Although Max led the race early on, Oscar remained a threat throughout the first stint, and when a Safety Car played into Lando’s hands later on, the Brit needed no further invitation. Luck played a major factor, but Lando’s pace after the Safety Car left no room for debate – the speed was there for McLaren to win races.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Imola would prove that Miami wasn’t just an anomaly for McLaren. Verstappen and Red Bull were off-balance all weekend, with a lucky tow in qualifying helping them to secure pole position. In the race, Lando loomed close behind, and when Max began to struggle in the late stages, he closed in. Finishing less than a second behind the Dutchman, the 24-year-old confirmed that McLaren’s competitiveness was no longer track-dependent.

The Monaco Grand Prix

It was Ferrari’s turn to shine in the principality of Monaco, as Charles Leclerc finally broke his home-race curse. Without the need for pitstops and owing to the circuit’s challenging layout, Oscar and Lando were unable to pose a serious threat in the race, but they were ever-present in the mirrors of the scarlet cars. Their package was now confirmed to be consistently quick across a variety of track types.

The British Grand Prix

And what of the British Grand Prix in July? A race Lando so deftly seized the lead of in 2023, to the roar of the British crowd. This time, he’ll return to home soil a race winner, and with an even more competitive McLaren underneath him than he had 12 months ago. Do British fans dare to dream of a home win? Of Union Jacks flying proudly underneath the Silverstone podium, Lando stood atop its highest step. A dream that becomes all the more conceivable with each race that passes.

TICKETS: Watch Lando Norris take the fight to Max Verstappen at the 2024 British Grand Prix

A bona fide title tilt?

Beyond the British Grand Prix lies 12 more races, and 12 more opportunities to overhaul Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship. It was a run of events in which Lando was the second-highest point scorer of 2023. Is a genuine title campaign within sight for Lando and McLaren? Perhaps, it is still too early to speculate, but only time will tell.