Lando Norris, the current 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 win of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, trimming the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 91 points as the sport heads into its summer hiatus with eleven of the twenty‑three scheduled races already completed. The dominance of Norris’s victory, achieved after McLaren introduced a substantial aerodynamic upgrade package at the Hungaroring, has sparked optimism that the Woking‑based team may have finally cemented itself as a genuine contender for race wins. This development also fuels speculation that the British driver could re‑enter the fight for the title.
During the latest episode of Sky Sports’ "The F1 Show" podcast, Croft highlighted the pivotal question of whether McLaren can sustain 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 keep this up?
Are they going to put their eggs in a Lando Norris basket, and will that strategy pay off again?" Croft went on to stress that the Constructors’ Championship remains wide open, and that the Drivers’ Championship is far from being decided. "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 a holiday yet – I’m eager to get back to racing at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. I don’t want a long break; I want the action to be thick and fast!" One of McLaren’s Achilles heels this season has been its inability to extract maximum performance from the Mercedes‑supplied power unit, a shortfall that the Silver Arrows have exploited more effectively.
The Hungaroring, however, is one of the least demanding circuits in terms of outright engine power, which raises questions about whether McLaren can replicate its Hungarian success on more power‑hungry tracks. Croft noted, though, that the Hungaroring shares certain characteristics with Monaco – a venue where Mercedes managed to claim victory in early June. "We’re eleven races in now, and I think McLaren are understanding the power unit far better than they were at the start of the year," he explained.
"Is it a surprise 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 how strong Mercedes were in Monaco, but that may have been down to driver‑specific factors or Kimi’s exceptional performance that weekend. It doesn’t necessarily mean Mercedes are weak at a circuit like Budapest." What excites Croft most is the prospect of tighter championship battles. "What delighted me about stronger competition for the leaders is that it pushes the championship right to the wire, which is far more entertaining," he said.
"McLaren’s upgrade clearly worked. They have taken their time this year to catch up, and now they appear to be on par with Mercedes. The signs were there from the start of the weekend – Lando built up pace, indicating the upgrade was effective and that they were ready to challenge the dominant team." 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’s Bernie Collins believes Norris still has ample opportunity to turn the tide.
"This year is all about upgrades," Collins remarked on the podcast. "It’s about who can extract the most from their cars and engines.
We’ve completed eleven rounds and have twelve more to go, so there are still a huge number of points up for grabs." Collins pointed to the previous season as a cautionary tale. Max Verstappen trailed championship leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points with nine races left, yet he fought back to finish just two points behind Norris in the final standings. "We saw McLaren have a slight edge this weekend, and perhaps Mercedes were a bit distracted in earlier races," he added. "So, it’s still all to play for.
You have at least three cars – possibly Verstappen as well – in the mix, and it will be fascinating to see who emerges at the front week after week." The Formula 1 calendar will resume after the summer break with a sprint weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix 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 action on the Sky Sports WhatsApp channel or listen to the full "The F1 Show" podcast for deeper analysis. The upcoming races will be crucial for Norris, McLaren, and the entire grid as they battle for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in what promises to be an exhilarating second half of the season.