Fear is growing for Lando NorrisThe British is the world leader, but Max Verstappen He has reduced the gap and is now only 12 points behind him. The drivers' championship, which seemed to have taken the road to Woking, is no longer a certainty for the number 4 of the McLaren, but there is an interesting statistic that winks at Norris in sight of Abu Dhabi.
Norris, a season of progress
©️ Pirelli
The season of Lando Norris It was the scene of the positive evolution of the English driver. If in the first part of the season he still seemed not ready to become world champion, after Zandvoort things have changed. The Dutch retirement triggered something in Lando's head, who closed the gap in the standings with Piastres and even surpassed it. The qualitative leap of Norris It's clear, the '99-born driver appeared much more calm and focused and seemed capable of bringing the drivers' world championship back to Woking, 17 years later Lewis HamiltonThe Papaya driver, however, encountered two obstacles along the way to the title. One was the team itself, which made serious mistakes; the other was called Max Verstappen. You should never underestimate the Dutch.
Papaya's Follies and Verstappen's Comeback
©️ Steve Marcus
A Norris His personal growth in the second half of the season was not enough. The British driver managed to overtake Piastres in the standings, but he had to deal with his team, which made some sensational mistakes such as the disqualification of Las Vegas and Qatar's crazy strategy. Mistakes that wouldn't matter much, if it weren't for the fact that Max Verstappen He has achieved consecutive podium finishes since Monza and has reduced the gap to the top from 104 to 12 points. Norris He's managing the Red Bull driver's comeback calmly and intelligently, trying to stay out of trouble, but his team has put Max in a position to believe in the title. Now Lando is really feeling the pressure. Will he be able to handle Abu Dhabi and win his first world championship?
The Abu Dhabi statistic that makes Norris smile
©️ IMAGO
If there is any concern about Lando Norris With Abu Dhabi in sight, there's a statistic that can comfort him. The Abu Dhabi law is clear. Since 2018, whoever wins in the United Arab Emirates becomes world champion the following year. And who won at Yas Marina last year? Lando Norris. Furthermore, since the Abu Dhabi GP was introduced into the calendar, 12 out of 16 times the winner has been crowned champion the following year. So it seems almost a certainty. The only ones who have not respected the "law" have been Hamilton in 2011, Raikkonen in 2012, Hag and in 2013 Bottas in 2017. In 2023 Verstappen He's already broken a taboo: no one could win the world championship by winning the first GP of the season. But he did it. Will he be able to break this spell too?
