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McLaren Must Be Ruthless in F1 Drivers' Championship says Damon Hill

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Damon Hill has urged McLaren to prioritise the F1 drivers' championship as Lando Norris battles to close the gap with Max Verstappen. Norris's recent victory at the Dutch Grand Prix marked a significant resurgence in his title hopes, trailing Verstappen by 70 points. The 24-year-old driver has struggled with starts, losing first place at turn one on Sunday, and has been critical in allowing team-mate Oscar Piastri to claim victory in Hungary. Hill, a three-time F1 champion, believes McLaren must weigh the importance of the constructors' championship against the drivers' championship, which is worth more in terms of revenue to the team.

Key Takeaways:

  • Norris trails Verstappen by 70 points in the drivers' championship ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
  • Norris has struggled with starts, losing first place at turn one on Sunday and in Hungary, allowing team-mate Piastri to claim victory.
  • McLaren dominated the Dutch GP weekend, with Norris taking pole position and ultimately winning the race.
  • Norris has failed to lead after lap one when starting an F1 race on pole six times, including Sunday's event.
  • The drivers' championship is now the tightest it has been since Verstappen's 2021 championship victory against Lewis Hamilton.
  • McLaren trails Red Bull by 30 points in the constructors' championship with nine races to go.
  • Liberty Media, the owners of F1, understand the importance of the drivers' championship in generating revenue.

Statistics:

  • Norris trails Verstappen by 70 points in the drivers' championship.
  • Norris has 7 points to his name from his 10th place finish in Hungary, after being forced to concede 7 points to Piastri.
  • The Dutch GP saw Norris secure his 2nd F1 victory.
  • McLaren dominated the Dutch GP weekend, qualifying on pole and 2nd, with Norris securing the win and Verstappen in 2nd.
  • F1 has serious competitiveness at the business end of the season, with 9 races to go and Verstappen leading Norris by 70 points.

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • Getty Images

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