Lando Norris, the current world champion, still possesses the capability to engineer a dramatic resurgence and hold onto his Formula 1 drivers’ title, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst David Croft. Norris secured his and McLaren’s maiden victory of the campaign at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, narrowing the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 91 points as the sport pauses for the summer hiatus with eleven of the twenty‑three scheduled rounds completed. The dominant manner of Norris’s win, following a substantial upgrade package that McLaren introduced for the Hungaroring, has sparked optimism that the Woking outfit may have finally cemented its place among the front‑running teams. The Brit’s triumph suggests that he could re‑enter the title fight, provided the team can sustain the performance boost.
During the latest episode of Sky Sports’ "The F1 Show" podcast, Croft highlighted a single, pivotal question: can McLaren continue to out‑shine Antonelli’s Mercedes squad? He asked, “One of the big things coming out of the summer break – can McLaren carry this momentum forward?
Are they going to place all their bets on Lando Norris? And will that strategy pay off once again?” Croft believes the Constructors’ Championship remains wide open, and he doubts that Norris is so far behind that the Drivers’ title is out of reach. "The Constructors’ battle is still very much up for grabs. As for the Drivers’ crown, I don’t think Lando is so far behind that he can’t claw back the deficit," he said.
He added a personal note about his own schedule, noting that he has not yet taken a holiday and is eager to return to racing action at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. "I don’t want a three‑week break; I want the racing thick and fast!" he exclaimed. One of McLaren’s recurring challenges this season has been extracting maximum performance from the Mercedes‑supplied power unit.
The Silver Arrows have historically made better use of the engine, leaving McLaren at a disadvantage on power‑heavy circuits. Since Hungary is one of the less demanding tracks in terms of engine output, some observers wonder whether the team can replicate the Hungarian success on more power‑intensive venues.
Croft, however, pointed out that the Hungaroring shares certain characteristics with Monaco, a circuit where Mercedes managed to claim victory earlier in June. He observed, "We’re eleven races into the season, and I think McLaren now understands the power unit far better than they did at the start of the year." He noted that McLaren’s strong showing in Budapest was not entirely unexpected, given that the team had achieved one‑two finishes there in the previous two seasons. "It’s a little surprising only because Mercedes were so strong in Monaco, but perhaps that was driver‑specific. Kimi was exceptional that weekend, but I don’t think Mercedes are necessarily weak at a track like Budapest," Croft explained.
What excites Croft most is the prospect of a tighter championship battle. "What delighted me is the stronger competition to the leaders. We want to see this championship go right to the wire because that’s far more entertaining. The McLaren upgrade clearly worked," he said.
He praised McLaren for taking a measured approach to development, stating that the team has been playing catch‑up all season but is now beginning to close the gap. "The signs were there from the start – Lando built up pace throughout the weekend, indicating the upgrade was effective. They now have the speed to challenge Mercedes," Croff added.
There remains uncertainty over whether all twelve of the remaining scheduled rounds will be held, given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Nevertheless, Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins is confident that Norris still has ample opportunity to turn the tide.
"This year will be defined by upgrades," Collins said on the podcast. "It will be about who can get the most out of the cars and the engines." With eleven rounds already completed and twelve still to run, a substantial pool of points remains on the table.
Collins reminded listeners of last season’s drama, when Max Verstappen trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points with nine races left, only to fight back and finish just two points shy of the eventual champion, Lando Norris. "We saw McLaren have a slight edge this weekend, and Mercedes may have been a bit distracted earlier in the year," Collins observed. "So, it’s still all to play for.
We now have three, maybe four, cars – including Verstappen – that could be front‑runners week in, week out. That’s the kind of evolving story that makes the sport fascinating." The Formula 1 calendar will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from 21‑23 August, with every session broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required, and can also follow the action through the Sky Sports WhatsApp service and the "The F1 Show" podcast for deeper analysis.