His McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri has been compared to Raikkonen in the past, but the ice-cold Finn produced a comeback in 2007 that would earn Lando Norris his first title if he could achieve a similar feat.
Raikkonen scored 26 out of a possible 30 points during the final three races of the 2007 season to overturn a significant deficit to both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
He won the final race in Japan and finished one point ahead of both McLaren drivers having started the race 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship.
The maths is equally concerning for Norris going up against Max Verstappen with the final triple-header of the 2024 season on the horizon.
Norris has to overcome a 62-point deficit with 86 points available in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
McLaren have a much better chance of winning their first Constructors’ Championship in more than 25 years but Norris won’t abandon hopes of winning an individual title until it’s mathematically impossible.
| Max Verstappen wins the championship if… |
| Verstappen finishes ahead of Norris in any position |
| Norris finishes 2nd (18 points) and Verstappen finishes 3rd with the fastest lap (16 points) |
| Norris finishes 3rd (15 points) and Verstappen finishes 4th with the fastest lap (13 points) |
| Norris finishes 4th without the fastest lap (12 points) and Verstappen finishes 5th (10 points) |
| Norris finishes 5th without the fastest lap (10 points) and Verstappen finishes 6th (8 points) |
| Norris finishes 6th without the fastest lap (8 points) and Verstappen finishes 7th (6 points) |
| Norris finishes 7th without the fastest lap (6 points) and Verstappen finishes 8th (4 points) |
| Norris finishes 8th without the fastest lap (4 points) and Verstappen finishes 9th (2 points) |
| Norris finishes 9th without the fastest lap or lower (2 points or fewer) |
Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde was speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast about Norris and his superb 2024 campaign.
He was very complimentary about the 25-year-old but has pointed one more improvement he has to make if he wants to beat Verstappen next season.
Asked how difficult it will be for Norris to pick himself up after losing the race in Sao Paulo, Van der Garde said: “It’s hard. But on the other hand, he has been there for a couple of races. He’s been a little bit up and down.
“For me, Lando is a super talent. I think [he’s] one of the fastest drivers in the paddock.
“The way he drives, his lines are super quick in qualifying. Sometimes in races, he can be a little bit better, but it’s always things to improve.
“But for me, he’s super fast. And mentally, it’s been hard. I think especially when you’re starting on pole position in a race in Interlagos and your competitor is in the back and he wins the race.
“Mentally, it’s hard. But the only thing he has to do is he needs to perform in the upcoming races in Las Vegas. He needs to do his best. He knows the title to win it, it’s going to be tough.
“But come on, guys, what a season he’s had.
“Don’t forget in Singapore, super fast. In Zandvoort, he did an incredible job there.
“So, yeah, I have to say, I take my hat off for him, also for McLaren. So for them, I hope personally they win the Constructors Championships.”
One of the differences between F1 drivers now and when McLaren last won a title is how open and available the stars of the sport are.
Although David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen were well-known around the world, social media has given fans unprecedented access to their heroes.
Both McLaren drivers have millions of followers on several platforms and Norris has received messages from his heroes after some of his biggest achievements this year.
Norris has also sacrificed one of his favourite hobbies during race weekends to concentrate on his performance and it’s paid off more often than not this season.
McLaren started slightly on the back foot in 2024 and that’s likely to be the difference between Norris having a shot of winning the title in Abu Dhabi and his challenge being over in Las Vegas.
However, the regulations don’t change next year, and both McLaren drivers will fancy their chances of finally ending Verstappen’s reign of supremacy.
