F1 champion Max Verstappen's rivals DOMINATE as Dutchman in dismal showing

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Singapore, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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Verstappen rivals DOMINATE as champion in dismal showing

Max Verstappen recently became a four-time world champion

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Sunday 22 December 2024 12:57

Max Verstappen has been dealt a huge blow in the aftermath of the 2024 season, despite claiming championship success.

The Dutchman won his fourth consecutive drivers' championship title in 2024, wrapping it up at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with two races to spare.

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However, a run of 10 successive races without a victory earlier in the season allowed Lando Norris to mount a championship challenge, slowly cutting his lead at the top throughout the summer months as Red Bull's performance seemingly fell off a cliff.

Norris and McLaren's stunning form - resulting in their first constructors' championship triumph since 1998 - saw a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 season.

Overall, the season saw seven different drivers claiming more than one race victory, despite Verstappen and Red Bull coming into the season as the overwhelming favourites to dominate the season.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were in a fierce championship battle in 2024

Max Verstappen is now a four-time world champion

Norris thrashes Verstappen

Now, Verstappen's up-and-down 2024 form seems to have come back to bite him, with the final standings for F1's 'Driver of the Day' award seeing the Dutchman all the way down in seventh.

The award is voted for by fans during every grand prix throughout the season, with it being entirely based on driver skills and racecraft, as opposed to where the driver eventually finishes or car performance throughout the race.

Norris tops the pile with seven awards, to go along with his four race victories, while Charles Leclerc's fine performances saw him claim five Driver of the Day awards.

Verstappen was only given the award once, at the Brazilian GP in November, when he brilliantly raced from 17th on the grid after a poor qualifying to win the race and all but end Norris' championship chances.