As the opening races of the 2024 F1 season unfolded, Max Verstappen and Red Bull looked like a force to be reckoned with after securing a number of wins. However, as the campaign progressed, the gaps between the field narrowed, and the Dutchman and his team’s position at the top has come under threat from a number of their rivals.
Six other drivers have taken race wins throughout the season so far, allowing for an increasingly tight battle in the standings to develop, while Red Bull will need to fight back in the second half of the year if they are to maintain their lead in the constructors’ championship.
It’s clear that everything is up for grabs, as there are several names who mathematically have a chance of taking on the reigning world champions in the final ten races of 2024. Who are the most likely candidates to take on Verstappen and Red Bull? Let’s take a look at the candidates…
The drivers:
Lando Norris
The man who currently appears to be the biggest threat to Verstappen, both in terms of statistics and form, is Norris, with the McLaren driver second in the standings.
While he may be 78 points behind the reigning champion, Norris has earned praise for his performances throughout the year so far, having taken his debut win in Miami and coming agonisingly close on other occasions.
Having claimed he needed a “reset” over the summer break following some mistakes in recent races, it will be fascinating to see whether Norris returns with a greater sense of drive – and a willingness to battle Verstappen – when the campaign resumes.