Lando Norris, the current Formula 1 world champion, still possesses the ingredients needed to mount a dramatic comeback and defend his drivers’ title, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst David Croft. Norris secured his and McLaren’s inaugural win of the 2024 campaign at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, cutting the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 91 points with just eleven of the scheduled twenty‑three races completed before the summer hiatus. The manner of Norris’s triumph was particularly striking. McLaren arrived at the Hungaroring with a substantial aerodynamic upgrade package, and the car’s performance on the relatively low‑speed circuit was a clear indicator that the Woking outfit may have finally broken through to the front‑running tier.
The victory not only gave the Briton a morale boost but also sparked speculation that McLaren could sustain this momentum and re‑enter the title fight. During the most recent episode of Sky Sports’ The F1 Show podcast, Croft highlighted a key question: can McLaren continue to out‑perform Antonelli’s Mercedes‑powered team over the remainder of the season?
He asked, “One of the big things coming out of the summer break – can McLaren keep this going? Are they going to put their eggs in a Lando Norris basket, and will it pay off again?” Croft believes the Constructors’ Championship remains wide open and that the Drivers’ title is still within reach for Norris.
“I don’t think Lando is so far behind that he can’t claw back the deficit,” he said, adding that he himself hasn’t even taken a holiday yet. “I’m eager to get back to racing at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. I don’t want a three‑week lull – I want the action thick and fast!” One persistent weakness for McLaren this year has been extracting maximum performance from the Mercedes power unit they use.
While the Silver Arrows have historically been able to exploit the engine’s full potential, McLaren has struggled to match that level of efficiency. The Hungarian circuit, being relatively gentle on engines, may have masked this shortfall, raising doubts about whether the team can replicate the same pace on more power‑hungry tracks.
Nevertheless, Croft pointed out that the Hungarowski layout shares characteristics with Monaco, a venue where Mercedes managed to claim victory earlier in June. “We’re eleven races in, and I think McLaren now understands the power unit far better than they did at the start of the year,” he observed. He noted that McLaren’s strong showing in Budapest was not a surprise given their one‑two finishes there in the previous two seasons, but it was noteworthy because Mercedes had looked dominant in Monaco.
“The upgrade worked,” Croft enthused. “McLaren took their time this year to catch up, and now they’re finally doing it.
From the start of the weekend, Lando was building pace, which signalled that the package was effective and that they could start challenging Mercedes.” Looking ahead, there is some uncertainty about whether all twelve of the remaining races will take place as planned due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Yet Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins remains optimistic that Norris will have ample opportunity to turn the tide. “This season is going to be about upgrades,” Collins said on the podcast.
“It will be about who can get the most out of the car and the engine. We’ve completed eleven rounds and have twelve more to go, so there are still a lot of points on the board.” Collins reminded listeners of last year’s dramatic swing: Max Verstappen trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points with nine races left, only to surge back and finish just two points shy of the eventual champion, Norris.
That precedent underscores how quickly fortunes can change in F1 when a team finds the right development direction. He added, “We saw McLaren this weekend gain a slight edge, and Mercedes may have been distracted by internal issues earlier in the season. So, everything is still up for grabs.
You have three, maybe four, cars – including Verstappen – that could be battling for wins week in, week out. It’s going to be fascinating to watch.” The championship will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort from August 21‑23, with every session broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required. As the calendar unfolds, Norris’s ability to capitalize on McLaren’s recent upgrades, manage the power‑unit balance, and maintain consistency will be the decisive factors in whether he can keep his title hopes alive and finish the season as a double champion.