McLaren’s Withdrawal from Formula E Boosts Lando Norris’ F1 Title Hopes
The shock decision of McLaren to quit Formula E was taken so that they could concentrate some of their resources into entering the world endurance championship from 2027 onwards.
But it has also had a knock-on effect of concentrating the team’s efforts in Formula One, with a first Drivers’ Championship since 2008 – to go with last season’s Constructors’ Championship title – now a distinct possibility.
Still a Favourite
Lando Norris would love nothing more than to be the man responsible. And while his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, is just ahead in the standings, the results suggest he still has plenty of opportunities to win races up his sleeve.
We can look to the bookmakers for an idea of each driver’s chances. While the sports betting odds for the F1 world title race favour his Australian teammate, Norris is still very much fancied by the market. With most sports betting tips columns now agreeing that the Drivers’ Championship is a two-horse race in 2025.
Austrian GP: Lando Norris fumes at Max Verstappen move – BBC Sport https://t.co/qscGHYT13R
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) June 30, 2024
In 2024, the 25-year-old impressed at the Canadian Grand Prix, advancing from third on the grid to finish second to the then all-conquering Verstappen, and this year, Norris will be hoping for a repeat performance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, before the action heads to the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix.
The 2024 edition in Austria was another ‘what might have been’ race for Norris. With just eight laps to go, he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre on the outside. Verstappen eased out to close off the passing lane and there was a collision; significant enough to render Norris’ McLaren unsafe to continue.
And then comes the British Grand Prix, another source of inspiration and redemption for Norris after the trials and tribulations of his last outing at Silverstone in 2024, where heavy rain scuppered his chances.
STILL WE RISE 🍾🍾🏆🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/6EtGCDGjAr
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) July 7, 2024
Afterwards, Norris admitted that Lewis Hamilton, the race winner, and his Mercedes team did a ‘better job’ of handling the conditions. “As a team, I don’t think we did quite the job we should have done, or good enough,” he concluded.
Can McLaren make it right this summer?
Moving On
Whatever the future holds for McLaren in motor racing, it looks almost certainly as though their days in Formula E are over.
It was back in April that the firm revealed their intention to quit the series at the end of the current season, with little in the way of likelihood of them returning.
McLaren’s change of strategic overview has instead identified endurance racing as their next target, with Le Mans in 2027 – allied to an entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship – their ultimate goal.
But will they get a chance to celebrate an F1 world title with Norris beforehand?
