Until the Autonomous Racing League of Abu Dhabi
So, Max Verstappen emerged as the winner of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after all.
However, his path to victory was not as straightforward as his previous wins.
Considering Lando Norris’s rapid rise, which put him in contention for victory for the second consecutive weekend, raises the question of how close McLaren is to becoming a consistent threat.
With Ferrari not far behind, is F1 on the brink of a three-way battle? And even if that’s not the case at the moment, is it something to expect in the near future?
Here are our writers’ opinions:
This indicates that Red Bull is starting to look more vulnerable, much more than in Miami.
While the result may seem like a return to normalcy on paper, the reality is that Red Bull is under pressure. There will still be races where Verstappen dominates, but it seems like rivals, especially McLaren, now have more opportunities to attack.
Verstappen barely held off Norris and admitted after crossing the finish line – with an expletive-filled exclamation – that he had to work hard for this win. This feeling has been shared for some time, but never with such relief!
Red Bull has already been defeated twice this season in weekends that were not perfect, and this could happen in “normal” races as well – as it almost did here.
McLaren will have more chances on tracks that suit their car. And let’s not discount Ferrari either – although this race was a slight disappointment, the gap to Verstappen is still better than in several races this year.
At the end, if the battle between these three teams comes down to the characteristics of the circuit, specific race weekends, and individual execution – we will all be excited about it.
I believe we can speculate whether it is specific to the circuit or a change of guard. Monaco will probably be different due to its unique nature, but for regular circuits, McLaren needs to find that extra something, a few tenths, and Ferrari needs a bit more, probably three tenths. But if this happens, we will have a battle of three teams at the front more often than not.
Norris and Piastri seem to be a stronger pair, with more depth than Verstappen and Perez. Similarly, as the Red Bull pair compared to Ferrari, Leclerc seems to have a slight edge over Sainz. This may change from time to time, but not frequently enough to say that these two teams are equally strong.
McLaren seems to understand what the car needs to improve its performance, so for Formula 1, the future looks promising and the competition will become fiercer. Unfortunately, in the process, the other teams may fall a bit behind.
The pattern of the last two races should be concerning for Ferrari, as it now seems to have fallen behind McLaren in the race to be the closest challenger to Red Bull.
Miami was a peculiar race: there was no tire degradation, McLaren made great improvements to their cars, but struggled in qualifying, Red Bull had difficulties throughout the weekend, and the race was heavily influenced by the timing of the safety car intervention.
In Imola, we had a clean race, and once again it was McLaren fighting against Red Bull – a Red Bull that had its problems on Friday, but performed as expected in qualifying and the race, with Verstappen in the lead.
Both Red Bull and Ferrari brought improvements for this race, but they did not reduce the gap to McLaren. If Oscar Piastri had not been penalized in qualifying, McLaren could have secured a full podium behind Verstappen.
Therefore, McLaren has proven to be faster than Ferrari on circuits with low tire degradation and those that require front grip – areas where Ferrari used to excel compared to Red Bull.
Carlos Sainz mentioned that Ferrari anticipated this would be a “McLaren” track before the weekend, but the issue is that more and more circuits that were not traditionally favorable to McLaren are now suiting their car.
The McLaren car is exceptionally quick in fast corners, much improved compared to slow corners (unless they are very long), and has become much more efficient on straights. Additionally, as Norris demonstrated in this race, it is better at managing tire wear over the course of a race.
Considering where Ferrari started in 2024, this can be seen as a 1-0 victory for McLaren in the development race – a cause for concern in Maranello.
It may be too late for a title challenge in 2024, as even though McLaren and Ferrari are competitive enough to challenge Red Bull on most weekends, Verstappen has extended his lead to 48 points.
However, this should give everyone more hope for 2025 than we had just a few weeks ago.
Prior to Miami, 2025 was already being seen as a year without chances in the title fight, with the new car and engine regulations for 2026 being seen as the next opportunity for someone to challenge Verstappen and Red Bull.
But with McLaren’s progress in 2024 and Ferrari’s ability to challenge Red Bull at certain circuits, there is now a realistic hope that Ferrari, McLaren, or both can deliver a true title fight in three years.
Regardless of what this means for the rest of the season, it was refreshing to see Red Bull pushed to the limit and the genuine celebrations that followed.
Verstappen and Red Bull cannot be accused of feigning exaggerated celebrations, as some dominant champions have done in the past whenever they secured an easy victory. Sometimes, their radio communications at the finish line seemed almost bored. So, it was nice to hear the excitement this time and witness the genuine emotion as Max celebrated with his team in parc fermé.
In fact, even in Miami, there was a sense that Verstappen was happier to see his friend Norris win than if he had won by a large margin without competition.
I am not criticizing Verstappen and Red Bull for their celebrations after easy victories. But it is more satisfying for them and for F1 to see them clinch hard-fought victories that seem more meaningful.
© 2024
The world of sports is filled with excitement and fierce competition. And in the year 2024, it was no different. Various high-level sporting events took place around the globe, leaving fans eager for more. From the Olympics to football, tennis, and basketball competitions, athletes demonstrated skill and determination in every play.
One of the highlights of the year was the FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil. Teams from all over the world faced each other in an epic battle for the title. With exciting games and many goals, fans cheered at every play. In the end, the Brazilian team became champions, taking the trophy home and filling the country with pride.
Another sporting event that caught attention was the Summer Olympics, hosted in Paris. Athletes from all parts of the world gathered to compete in various sports. From swimming to athletics, competitors showed their talent and dedication. The highlight was the broken records and stories of overcoming adversity that moved everyone.
In tennis, fans were able to watch great matches between the best players in the world. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams shone on the courts, showing why they are considered the best in their respective categories. With incredible plays and highly contested matches, they provided unforgettable moments for sports lovers.
In basketball, the NBA continued to delight fans with electrifying games and spectacular plays. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors showed all their talent on the court, achieving exciting victories. Fans cheered at every basket and watched intense duels between the biggest stars of the sport.
In addition to these events, many other sports also stood out throughout the year. From Formula 1 races to golf and cycling competitions, athletes showed that sports are much more than just a competition. It is a way to overcome challenges, bring people together, and celebrate the passion for sports.
The year 2024 was full of exciting and historic moments for the world of sports. Fans from all over the world came together to cheer for their idols and celebrate the greatness of sports. May more competitions come and may the athletes continue to inspire us with their dedication and talent. Sports is a universal language that connects us and moves us. It is a source of joy and overcoming, capable of bringing together people from different cultures and backgrounds. May more unforgettable moments come and may sports continue to enchant and inspire us.
