Lando Norris, the current Formula 1 world champion, still possesses the tools to engineer a dramatic comeback and keep his 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 11 of the 23 scheduled rounds completed. The dominance of Norris’s win, achieved 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 regular race‑winning outfits.
The Briton’s triumph suggests that he could once again become a genuine contender for the title. During the most recent edition of Sky Sports’ "The F1 Show" podcast, Croft highlighted that the decisive factor will be whether McLaren can sustain its newfound edge over Antonelli’s Mercedes squad. He asked: “One of the big questions coming out of the summer break is whether McLaren can keep this momentum. Are they going to place all their bets on Lando Norris?
And will that gamble pay off again?” Croft went on to say that the Constructors’ Championship remains wide open and that, in his view, Norris is not so far behind in the Drivers’ standings that a comeback is impossible. “I haven’t even taken a holiday yet,” he joked, “and I’m already looking forward to the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. I don’t want a three‑week lull – I want the action back, fast and furious!” One of McLaren’s lingering issues this season has been extracting maximum performance from the Mercedes‑supplied power unit, a shortfall that the Silver Arrows have exploited more effectively. Hungary is a circuit that places relatively modest demands on engine output, which raises the question of whether McLaren can translate the Hungaroring success to more power‑hungry venues.
Nevertheless, Croft pointed out that the Hungaroring shares certain characteristics with Monaco, a track where Mercedes still managed to claim victory in early June. “We’re now 11 races in, and I think McLaren have a much better grasp of the power‑unit package than they did at the start of the year,” he observed. “Is it surprising they performed so well in Hungary? Not really – they finished one‑two in Budapest for the past two seasons.
It was a little unexpected given Mercedes’ strength in Monaco, but that may have been down to Kimi’s exceptional performance that weekend rather than any inherent weakness in the Mercedes engine at a circuit like Budapest.” Croft expressed genuine enthusiasm about the prospect of tighter competition at the top of the standings. “What excites me is seeing stronger rivals to the championship leaders. A title fight that goes down to the wire is far more entertaining, and McLaren’s upgrade clearly delivered.” He added that McLaren had taken a measured approach to development this year, playing catch‑up before finally finding the right formula.
“From the start of the weekend, Lando was building pace, which signalled that the upgrade was effective. They now have the speed to challenge Mercedes.” There remains some uncertainty about whether all 12 remaining rounds will proceed as planned due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins believes Norris still has ample opportunity to turn the tide. "This season is all about upgrades," Collins said on the podcast. "It’s about who can extract the most from the chassis and the engine.
With 11 rounds behind us and 12 still to run, there are plenty of points up for grabs." Collins referenced last year’s dramatic swing when Max Verstappen, who trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points with nine races left, rallied to finish just two points behind Norris in the final tally. That precedent underscores how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1. He also noted that McLaren appeared to have a slight advantage over Mercedes during the Hungarian weekend, suggesting that internal dynamics at Mercedes may have distracted the team earlier in the season. "We’ve seen McLaren gain a little ground this weekend, and perhaps Mercedes have been preoccupied with their own issues," Collins remarked.
"So, everything is still up for grabs. You have at least three cars – maybe even Verstappen – fighting for the lead week after week, and that’s 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, and can also follow the discussion on The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel, and other platforms. In summary, while Norris’s deficit to Antonelli is sizable, the combination of McLaren’s recent upgrade, a potentially more refined understanding of their power unit, and the inherent volatility of a Formula 1 season mean that the title is far from decided. As the calendar progresses, the battle for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships promises to intensify, offering plenty of drama for enthusiasts eager to see whether the young Briton can clinch back‑to‑back championships.