Lando Norris finds himself in a unique position regarding his 2024 Formula 1 season. He believes it has been "a very good year" yet sympathizes with more negative perspectives of his nearly-but-not-quite title bid.

Unraveling Norris' 2024 F1 Season - Insights and Reflections

The Conflicted Perspective

Norris tells The Race that from the outside, he understands why people think the season hasn't been as great. He almost agrees with those views. But once you know the reasons behind different events, he is still proud of what the season has been so far. This is by far his most prolific season in F1 with three grand prix wins (so far), seven poles, 12 podiums, and second in the championship. There is a bittersweet taste though, as McLaren's great momentum wasn't fully capitalized on due to Red Bull's struggles making Max Verstappen vulnerable.Norris pauses for thought multiple times during this conversation in Mexico. The knowledge that his title hopes are now almost over, perhaps as early as this weekend in Las Vegas, makes his dissection of the season more poignant. He works through the highs and lows, agreeing with certain criticisms and pushing back where needed.He says there aren't as many missed opportunities as people think. McLaren has been quicker than they seem, and he's proud of making the most of opportunities like in Singapore and Zandvoort. But there are clearly some races where they let things go, like Silverstone and Canada.Regarding starts, he often finds himself in the top few even on "bad" start days. For example, in Barcelona, he was third or fourth best starter despite the initial perception. In Budapest, a tiny bit of wheelspin and a downgraded upshift cost him a potential victory.

The Harsh Reality Against Verstappen

This year, McLaren had the "fastest" car based on quickest laptimes in dry conditions on seven occasions, but Norris only won three races and had two pole positions. This has led to some critical responses, especially considering his past comments about Lewis Hamilton.Norris admits he was wrong then and has learned that even with the best car, many things can go against you. A small mistake in Q3 can cost a pole position, and an imperfect start can lead to a lower finish. There have been dominant races like Zandvoort where mistakes don't matter, but when people think the car is too dominant, even small margins matter.Norris missed out due to various reasons. He lost ground at the start in Spain and Hungary, was outmuscled by Piastri in Italy, was naive in the US, and made mistakes in Brazil. These pole-to-win ratios don't account for races he didn't start from pole but could have won.

Puzzled by Criticism

The notion that Norris is a hopeless contender is strange. He reads these things and doesn't understand how people get that perception. He insists his ego isn't big and that sometimes he chooses the wrong words. There is an irony in this as he often criticizes himself. He wonders if people don't want to listen to the truth or prove him wrong. He has changed in some ways, not joking and laughing as much as before.He says negative perceptions don't impact him as a driver but can affect him on a human level. He dwells on it sometimes but learns to shake it off and values the honesty of those around him.

No Excuses for 2025

McLaren is likely to secure the constructors' championship this year after a slow start in 2023. But Norris knows that if he and McLaren don't improve for 2025, all this will be wasted. Fighting for both titles from the start is a must.Norris signed a long-term deal with McLaren a few years ago, showing his loyalty. He is happy he stuck with the team through hard times and is proud of their achievement in beating Red Bull. These opportunities validate his faith in the team, but he still needs to improve for the future.