Lando Norris has expressed that McLaren’s 2024 Formula 1 season should still be considered a success even if he misses out on beating Max Verstappen to the title.
Norris goes into this weekend’s United States Grand Prix 52 points behind Verstappen with six events remaining but with McLaren the pacesetting team over Red Bull.
The Briton imposed a dominant 20-second winning margin on his championship rival in Singapore to extend McLaren’s Constructors’ Championship lead to 41 points.
However, Norris’ own title chances remain slim at this point as coming home in second place at all six races would be enough to witness Verstappen retain his crown.
With McLaren’s MCL38 recognised as the benchmark car since Miami in May, Norris has admitted he will look back on missed opportunities should he come up short.
“There’s always things, no matter what year you’re in, that you think you could have done this a bit better, you could have done that better,” Norris conceded.
“Even where I am now, there’s already things I go, damn, if only I did this or that.
“I’m not going to say where, but different scenarios, where if I lose the championship by a couple of points, that I can easily look at and go, I made probably a wrong decision here, and I could have lost it, but if I win it by one point, I’m sure there’ll be things that Max says, which is like, I probably lost it here as well.
“It’s easy to come up with excuses and reasons for things. If I finish second, it’s because Red Bull and Max have done a better job. That’s my only answer for it.”
Norris praises McLaren turnaround
However, Norris has dismissed the notion that not securing a maiden championship this term would be a failure given McLaren’s competitive edge across the season.
Instead, he has claimed that the Woking-based squad should be “proud” that it has transcended 2024 into a legitimate title contest amid Red Bull’s commanding start.
“We started a very long way behind in the beginning of the year,” he acknowledged.
“I think everyone thought Max was going to have an easy win in the championship. Red Bull were going to have another easy win in the championship.
“For that not to be the case, after the gap that they had after round one, and not even to come from Ferrari as the main contender, but from us, a team that was probably fourth at the start of the year, I think it’s something you need to be proud of.
“As the season goes on, you always re-evaluate where do we stand now, and what’s our new expectations.
“Our expectations now, we’re a top team, and we’re fighting for wins, and we’re fighting for a Constructors’ Championship, and we’re fighting for a Drivers’ Championship.
“Just as much as it can go wrong, it can also go well, like it has done for us. We’re fighting against the best of the best, and it’s been a fun year.
“I think no matter what, it’s still been a successful season. I’m sure I’ll be happier with a win than if it was for second.”
READ MORE: Lando Norris opens up on his mindset in 2024 F1 title battle
