McLaren and Norris miss out on record due to crash with Verstappen
F1 News
- Cas van de Kleut
One of the defining moments of 2024 came during the dramatic clash between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident made it clear that both drivers were willing to do whatever it took to secure a victory. However, the crash had lasting consequences for McLaren, as it ultimately cost the team a chance to set a new record.
Many Formula 1 fans had wondered whether Max Verstappen and Lando Norris could remain friends if they ever became title rivals, and their first major clash came in Austria. The two had been battling fiercely throughout the race when they made contact at Turn 3. Both drivers suffered punctures, with Norris ultimately forced to retire from the race due to the damage. The incident highlighted the growing intensity between the two, as both were clearly pushing hard for the win.
McLaren loses record due to Verstappen-Norris crash
Even though the friendship between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen has endured, their clash in Austria had an unexpected impact on McLaren. The seven laps Norris missed due to the incident were the only laps McLaren failed to complete in the entire 2024 season. Had Norris been able to finish those laps, McLaren would have set a new record for completing the most laps in a Formula 1 season, which was already the longest in history.
In total, McLaren completed 99.7% of the available laps, driving 2,881 out of 2,888 laps. Ferrari came closest to McLaren, completing 97.1% of the laps with 2,806 laps driven. As for Verstappen's team, Red Bull finished in sixth place, completing 2,653 laps, which accounts for 91.8% of the total laps.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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