Lando Norris, the defending world champion, still has a realistic chance of staging a dramatic comeback to keep his Formula 1 drivers’ title, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst David Croft. Norris secured his and McLaren’s first victory of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, narrowing the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 91 points as the sport pauses for its summer hiatus after 11 of the 23 scheduled races. The dominance of Norris’s win, coming after McLaren introduced a substantial aerodynamic upgrade package at the Hungaroring, has sparked optimism that the Woking‑based team may have finally cemented its place among the front‑runners. The Briton’s performance suggests he could re‑enter the title fight if the momentum continues.
During the most recent episode of Sky Sports’ "The F1 Show" podcast, Croft emphasized that the decisive factor will be whether McLaren can sustain its newfound pace and consistently out‑perform Antonelli’s Mercedes outfit. He asked: “One of the big questions coming out of the summer break is whether McLaren can keep this momentum alive. Will they keep banking on Lando Norris? And will that strategy pay off again?” Croft added that the Constructors’ Championship remains wide open and that the Drivers’ title is far from out of reach for Norris.
"I don’t think Lando is so far behind that he can’t claw back the deficit," he said. "And honestly, I haven’t even taken my 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 to be thick and fast!" One of the persistent challenges for McLaren this season has been extracting maximum performance from the Mercedes‑supplied power unit. The Silver Arrows have historically been better at harnessing the engine’s potential, and the relatively low‑downforce nature of the Hungarian circuit left some analysts questioning whether the team could replicate its success on more power‑hungry tracks.
Croft, however, noted that the Hungaroring shares certain characteristics with Monaco – a venue where Mercedes managed to claim victory earlier in June. He explained, "We’re now 11 races into the year, and I think McLaren has a much deeper understanding of the power unit than they did at the start of the season." He reflected on past performances, saying, "Is it a surprise they did so well in Hungary?
Not really – they’ve been a one‑two force in Budapest for the last two years. It is a little unexpected given how strong Mercedes were in Monaco, but that could be down to driver‑specific factors or Kimi’s exceptional weekend.
Still, I don’t think Mercedes are necessarily weak at a track like Budapest." Croft praised the impact of McLaren’s upgrade, stating, "What excites me about stronger competition for the championship leaders is that it makes the title fight go right down to the wire – that’s far more entertaining. The upgrade clearly worked. McLaren has taken its time this year to catch up, and now they’re finally narrowing the gap. The signs were there from the start of the weekend – Lando built up pace, the car felt balanced, and they were ready to challenge Mercedes." There is still uncertainty about whether all 12 remaining races will proceed as planned due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Nevertheless, Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins believes Norris has ample opportunity to turn the tide regardless of the calendar’s final shape. Collins remarked on the podcast, "This season is all about upgrades.
It’s about who can extract the most from the chassis and the engine. We’ve completed 11 rounds and still have 12 to go, meaning there are plenty of points left to be won." He cited last year’s dramatic swing as a precedent: Max Verstappen trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points with nine races left, yet managed to close the gap and finish just two points shy of Norris in the final standings. "We saw McLaren have a slight edge this weekend, and perhaps Mercedes were a bit distracted in earlier races.
So, everything is still up for grabs. You have three, maybe four, cars – including Verstappen – that could be fighting for the lead week in, week out. That’s incredibly exciting to watch." The Formula 1 calendar will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix from August 21‑23, with all sessions broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with no long‑term contract required.
The upcoming races will be crucial for Norris and McLaren as they aim to maintain the momentum generated in Hungary and keep the championship battle alive until the very end.