Lando Norris has admitted to feeling utterly demoralised for a week after his hopes of winning the Drivers' Championship were dashed, with the door now "almost shut" following a disappointing result at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
But looking ahead to 2025, Norris feels he's proved he is a genuine contender for F1 glory now.
The McLaren driver is trailing 62 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen as they head into the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with only 86 points up for grabs in the final three races.
Verstappen could clinch his fourth consecutive title if he outscores Norris in the upcoming race, especially after his remarkable victory from 17th to first in Brazil.
Norris, who started on pole at Interlagos but finished sixth, said: "It was a defining moment for the championship. The door is almost shut.
"I was pretty down for a week after Brazil because there was the realisation that things are out of my control and not within reach and that was a tough moment.
"When your hopes and beliefs are so high, and then for them to get knocked down, that was pretty demoralising and not the best of feelings but you learn to accept that is life.
"I can survive, I can put up a fight, and that is what I will do. But at some point you know it is not going to go your way. You never know.
"I am not saying it is over and I wouldn’t until it is, but it is very far out of reach. I need a lot of luck. I have to win three races, and hope Max fails to finish in those three races."
Norris admits that he wasn't fully prepared to challenge Red Bull's Verstappen at the start of the year.
Despite having one of the fastest cars on the grid provided by McLaren, Norris has struggled to convert pole positions into race wins, notably finishing a significant 31 seconds behind Verstappen in Sao Paulo after starting well ahead.
"I probably wasn’t outright ready to go up against Red Bull and Max," said Norris, who is now in his sixth season in F1.
"I think I am now, but it is probably too late. No one has gone up against Max so early on in their career and put up a reasonable fight. I am there but nobody else is doing it.
"This was my first opportunity to see where I stand. I was not at the level where I needed to be at the beginning of the year but since the summer break I have done a very good job and I have performed very well."
But looking to next year, Norris has an early word of warning for Verstappen.
He added: "I still need to make tweaks, and I still need to make improvements, but for the first time I am confident to say that I have what is needed to fight for a championship.
"That doesn’t mean I am complete or perfect and if you want to beat Max you have to be close to perfect – he is one of the best the sport will ever see – but the main thing I can take away from this season is that I have what it takes to fight for a world championship."
