Lando Norris has insisted he wouldn’t have won the 2024 Formula 1 title even with a “perfect season” as Red Bull was never as uncompetitive as McLaren at the start. McLaren’s miraculous mid-season turnaround last term saw it end the campaign as the closest contender to Red Bull, but Ferrari assumed the mantle as 2024 began.

The dust has settled over the Las Vegas strip, and Formula 1 has crowned its 2024 World Champion—despite Lando Norris’ best efforts. But unfortunately for the McLaren driver, the season was in Max Verstappen‘s hands right from the very start.

Lando Norris plays down his losing battle with the Red Bull driver: “Nobody in F1 could have recovered from a deficit like the one I had.”