Verstappen proved that only one man deserves the F1 world title in 2024

The feeling crept up during qualifying: it won't be that kind of year, will it? Where it looked like Lando Norris would lose out in the first part of qualifying, Max Verstappen was actually out of the running. A crash by Lance Stroll and a late red flag meant Verstappen had to start the race from the very back. And Lando? He started from the front.

After Verstappen's time penalty in the sprint race, this could be added to it. Verstappen's own frustration was palpable. He said he could have torn down the garage after the race win about his state of being after qualifying. This was also evident in the post-qualifying interview, where he put all the blame on race control. Something Kelly Piquet mimicked on Instagram.

That feeling of unfairness perhaps crept up on more people. Max Verstappen, the man who repeatedly proved to be the best in F1 this season, was about to have his World Championship lead reduced, potentially significantly. Norris was getting closer and closer, while the Briton was succumbing to the pressure repeatedly and has only won three races with the best car in the field since Miami. It wouldn't be that he would become world champion, would it?

Norris could not do what Verstappen can

Verstappen, however, did what only the greatest can do: turn the tide when everything is against him in a way that people will never forget. When everyone seems to be against you, delivering a performance that not even the stewards can stop.

After lap 1, you could feel it coming. Lando Norris surrendered pole position for the umpteenth time in his career, where Verstappen quickly passed six men in the rain like it was nothing. He repeated the overtaking moves from 2016 in Brazil with a world title at stake. Outside in turn three, he took several drivers and made them look almost like amateurs.

From that moment, you felt the tide was going to turn. Verstappen was not going to take a big hit in the championship here. He actually could deal a big blow. Verstappen was stuck behind Leclerc for a while, but Red Bull and Verstappen gambled well as the rain intensified. Hoping for a red flag, which would come due to a crash by Franco Colapinto. Luck is sometimes forced, as this situation proved.

From then on, Norris seemed broken. From P4, of course, anything was still possible for him, but he showed that what Verstappen shows every race is not easy. Namely, always maximise. Even when the going gets tough, they still get the best result. That is how Verstappen stayed in this title race and how Norris threw it away.

Verstappen is the world champion in 2024

Norris' panic began even before the heavy rain when he asked his team to go inside. Had McLaren listened, the damage would only have been worse. Under VSC, Norris came in and even briefly snatched the place from Russell. Not much later, however, Norris gave it away again.

During the red flag, Norris' frustration could already be heard, as Verstappen had been given a present with the red flag. Later, Norris would also call it luck and not talent, a clear statement of where Norris' head was at in the moment.

That frustration was also evident on the track. Twice, Norris shot off, only losing more places. His teammate handed Norris the spot, but he never made another attack on the drivers in front of him. The battle was over. The fire was out.

On the other hand, Verstappen showed why he already has three world titles, why a fourth is coming and why he is considered one of the best ever in Formula 1. When you are so badly under fire and then can perform like this, you can't help but take your hat off to the 2024 world champion because it is known.

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton