©McLaren
2. Lando Norris – McLaren
Championship final position: 2nd
Number of wins: 4
Number of poles: 8
While he may not have delivered the titanic "down to the wire" title battle against Max Verstappen that many had hoped for, Lando Norris’s leap to the next level firmly secures him second place in our top 10. We’ll remember 2024 as the year the once-shy McLaren driver finally claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory, cementing his status as a future title contender.
To be fair, it felt almost surreal that Norris had yet to win a Grand Prix. But then came Miami, erasing the lingering ghosts of his near-miss in a wet Sochi years ago. This breakthrough was not only a pivotal moment for Norris but also a defining moment for McLaren, signaling their emergence as a serious challenger to Red Bull’s dominance.
When his car delivered the performance, Norris was always a force to be reckoned with. However, operational errors and occasional missteps ultimately cost him an enduring shot at the Drivers' championship. But his strong results were crucial in enabling McLaren to prevail in the Constructors' standings for the first time since 1998.
Norris heads into 2025 with valuable lessons and the unwavering support of a revitalized McLaren team, brimming with a confidence not seen in decades. To truly contend for the championship, he’ll need to hit the ground running from the very first race. But the promise is undeniable, and the future looks brighter than ever for both Norris and McLaren.
