The Dutchman became only the sixth driver in Formula 1 history to win four or more titles in 2024. Verstappen overcame the difficulties that Red Bull endured with the RB20 to post 437 points – enough to eclipse Norris by 63 points as the McLaren star emerged as a title threat.
A main factor for Verstappen’s latest title defence was the advantage that Red Bull held over the field through the early rounds of the season.
But McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all had race-winning cars at various phases, to hold Verstappen to nine wins over the 24 Grand Prix.
With three rival teams in the mix for race wins last year, Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko believes Verstappen ‘saved’ the Milton Keynes natives by overcoming the flaws of the RB20.
Red Bull axed Sergio Perez after the 2024 season as he failed to win and had just 152 points.
But Marko also thinks Red Bull and Verstappen exploited the ‘strategic errors’ that McLaren made throughout the 2024 Formula 1 title fight, which ultimately cost Norris in his maiden championship challenge. The Austrian is adamant that Red Bull ‘never’ made such mistakes.
Norris and McLaren cost themselves swaths of points last year which should have given Red Bull and Verstappen a greater challenge for the drivers’ championship.
But the Woking crew dropped the ball and would not punish the challenging car Marko admits Red Bull produced.
“Max saved us, compensating for the weaknesses of the car,” Marko shared, via Auto Racer.
“The turning point was definitely his incredible performance in the wet in Brazil. Despite the technical problems we never made strategic errors, unlike McLaren in some situations.”
After Verstappen secured five wins through the first seven rounds of the 2024 season, it was nearly promised that the 27-year-old would become a four-time Formula 1 champion unless one particular driver became the dominant force – rather than six pilots winning Grand Prix.
Holding on right at the end as Verstappen beat Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix meant he left Imola 48 points ahead of the Dutchman’s nearest title rival, which was Charles Leclerc at the time. Norris won his first F1 race at the 2024 Miami Grand Prix the event prior.
Multiple drivers then winning Grand Prix then meant Verstappen was still 47 points ahead of Norris atop of the standings by the time F1 arrived in Brazil for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The margin might have been less without McLaren’s errors in Canada, Britain, Hungary and Italy.
McLaren cost Norris points with their poor strategies during the Canadian and British Grand Prix, plus with their refusal to issue team orders in favour of the Briton in the Hungarian and Italian Grand Prix. Norris also often dropped the ball, not least as Verstappen won in Brazil.
The Sao Paulo GP should have seen Norris blow the title fight wide open from pole position.
Yet the 25-year-old finished in P6 after twice running off the road following a red flag, which helped Verstappen win the Sao Paulo GP from P17 on the grid due to a free change of tyres.
