Max Verstappen thrashed by F1 rivals in season-long competition

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso at Brazil 2023 — Photo: © IMAGO

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Verstappen thrashed by F1 rivals in season-long competition

Max Verstappen recently became a four-time world champion

By Sam Cook.

Tuesday 24 December 2024 23:00

Max Verstappen may have won the Formula 1 drivers' title in 2024, but his hold on the sport appears to be slipping.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was the scene of his coronation this year, taking the crown with two races to go after holding off Lando Norris.

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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.

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.