Peter Windsor points to ‘poor management’ from McLaren that could cost Lando Norris title

Follow us on Google Discover

Lando Norris enters the final six rounds of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship with a genuine shot at the title after taking his third win of the season in Singapore.

It was a dominant display from the Briton who won by a margin of 20 seconds from Max Verstappen, and critically reduced the points gap by 52 points to the Dutchman.

Verstappen was on damage limitation throughout the weekend as Red Bull was looking to improve from its troubles in Singapore last year, which was the only race not won by the dominant RB19.

On Friday it looked like they would struggle to make the top 10 in qualifying, but some overnight changes made by the team and a bit of misfortune from Ferrari enabled Verstappen to qualify on the front row.

Lando Norris was also bouncing back from a mistake in qualifying during the Azerbaijan GP which put him at the back of grid, in the car that could have arguably won the race on an ‘off weekend’ for Red Bull.

Peter Windsor believes McLaren has made a lot of mistakes throughout the season which could impact Norris’ title chances heading into the tail end of the season when speaking on his YouTube livesteam.

McLaren ‘mistakes’ could cost Lando Norris in title battle

Former F1 driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg believes Norris’ performance at Singapore showed that he ‘has a shot’ at taking the title away from the Dutchman.

McLaren has called on teammate Oscar Piastri to support Norris on track, after he took several points away from him with an overtake at Monza on the opening lap that arguably cost them victory from a front row lockout.

Windsor believes McLaren’s management in the last few races has deprived Norris a chance to pile pressure on Red Bull while they are vulnerable.

“If you look at the gap now, 25 points would make a big difference particularly as three sprint races are coming up,” said Windsor.

“If he [Norris] was 25 points closer, he would definitely be putting more pressure on Red Bull and Max but he’s not doing it. And that’s poor management from McLaren.”

Which races as Lando Norris lost points in 2024?

Although Norris has shown that he can win races by comfortable margins from Verstappen, there have been a few occasions he had needlessly lost points.

The Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix are two standouts where Norris could have taken points off Verstappen when it was not clear Red Bull faced problems, but a poor start and a collision with the Dutchman while fighting for the lead cost him.

READ MORE: Lando Norris snubs Lewis Hamilton with huge praise for rival F1 driver

Races at Hungary and Monza are two other examples where the team cost Norris critical points by not enacting team orders, instead telling Piastri to race cleanly when overtaking each other.

This has all helped Verstappen maintain a consistent lead, whose 52-point deficit is now the same as it was at the Miami Grand Prix earlier in the season when Norris won his first race.