'All to Play For!' – How Norris Could Still Keep His F1 Crown

Lando Norris, the current Formula 1 world champion, still has a realistic chance of staging a dramatic comeback to hold onto his drivers' title, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst David Croft. Norris secured both his and McLaren's maiden victory of the year at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, trimming the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 91 points as the calendar moves into its summer hiatus with eleven of the twenty‑three scheduled races already completed. The dominant nature of the Hungarian win, achieved after McLaren introduced a substantial aerodynamic and mechanical upgrade package at the Hungaroring, has sparked optimism that the Woking‑based team may have finally cemented its place among the race‑winning contenders.

The Briton’s triumph also fuels speculation that he can re‑enter the title fight with renewed vigor. During the most recent episode of Sky Sports' "The F1 Show" podcast, Croft highlighted a pivotal question: can McLaren maintain the momentum and continue to out‑perform Antonelli’s Mercedes outfit? He asked, "One of the big things coming out of the summer break – can McLaren carry this on?

Are they going to put their eggs in a Lando Norris basket? And will it pay off once again?" Croft was emphatic that the Constructors' Championship remains wide open and that Norris is far from being out of reach in the Drivers' standings. "The Constructors' title is still very much up for grabs.

As for the Drivers' title, 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 eagerness to return to racing: "I haven’t even taken a holiday yet. I can’t wait to get back to business at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.

I don’t want a three‑week break; I want the racing thick and fast!" One of McLaren’s recurring challenges this season has been extracting maximum performance from the Mercedes‑supplied power unit. Historically, the Silver Arrows have been more adept at exploiting the engine’s potential, leaving McLaren at a relative disadvantage. Hungary, however, is one of the least demanding circuits in terms of outright power, which raises questions about whether the team can replicate their Hungaroring success on more power‑intensive tracks.

Croft noted that the Hungaroring shares certain characteristics with the street circuit of Monaco, where Mercedes managed to claim victory earlier in June. He explained, "We’re eleven races into the season now, and I think McLaren are understanding the power unit way better than they were at the start of the year." He reflected on past performance, stating, "Is it a surprise they did so well in Hungary? Well, based on recent form, no – they were one‑two for the last two years in Budapest.

It is a little surprising given how strong Mercedes were in Monaco, but that might be down to driver‑specific factors – Kimi was exceptional that weekend. Still, I don’t think Mercedes are necessarily weak at a track like Budapest." Croft praised the impact of McLaren’s upgrade package, saying, "What delighted me in terms of stronger competition to the championship leaders, and we want to see this championship go right to the wire because that’s way more fun, was that McLaren's upgrade worked.

They've taken their time this year to play catch‑up, but they are now catching up, I think. The signs were there from the start as Lando built up the pace into the weekend – this was a good upgrade, they had the pace, and they were ready to challenge Mercedes." There remains some uncertainty about whether all twelve of the remaining scheduled rounds will proceed as planned, given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Nevertheless, Sky Sports F1 commentator Bernie Collins believes Norris still has ample opportunity to reverse the situation. "I think this year is going to be about upgrades," Collins said on the podcast. "It’s about who can get on top of these cars, who can get the best out of the chassis, the best out of the engines. At the moment, as the calendar stands, we’ve done eleven rounds and we have twelve still to go.

So there are still lots and lots of points on the board." Collins reminded listeners of a recent precedent: last season, Max Verstappen trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points with nine races left, yet managed to fight back and finish just two points shy of the eventual champion, Lando Norris. This historical example underscores how quickly fortunes can change in the latter half of a season.

He added, "We saw McLaren this weekend at least have a little bit of the upper hand. Maybe Mercedes have been a bit distracted with each other in some of the earlier races as well.

So I think it’s still all to play for. You’ve got three cars, maybe Verstappen as well, in that fight – who knows as we go through later races who will be at the front week in, week out. That’s really interesting to watch." The Formula 1 calendar will pick up 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 and the option to cancel at any time. The combination of McLaren’s newfound pace, Norris’s hunger, and the remaining points still up for grabs ensures that the championship battle remains wide open, making the second half of the season a must‑watch saga for any motorsport enthusiast.