Current model
Two years after Max Verstappen and Red Bull wrapped up their Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships prematurely, the race for the world titles is on as a remarkable 2024 season reaches its climax.
McLaren impressively turned the tables on Red Bull to take the lead by 41 points in their quest for a first teams’ title since 1998, while Lando Norris is doing his best to catch up to Verstappen and is now 52 points behind.
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Many in the paddock see McLaren as the benchmark heading into the final six rounds, with the Woking team having won four of the last six races and finished on the podium in every Grand Prix since Japan in April.
While the MCL38 – with its effective updates – looked comfortable at most tracks, the same cannot be said for Red Bull’s RB20, which has taken a turn for the worse with mid-season developments and is on a win-less run extending into June. Spanish Grand Prix.
Some reactive changes appear to have helped, and further development is scheduled for the Red Bull car in Austin this weekend, but will it be enough to fight back against McLaren and end the year as they started it with the fastest pack?
McLaren and Red Bull are not the only teams in the title mix, with relegated Ferrari now just 34 points behind the world champions, while Charles Leclerc sits the same gap behind Norris in the drivers’ battle.
Mercedes is another team that has won races this season, and will bring its own updates to the Circuit of the Americas, aiming to return to the summer peak of winning in Austria, Britain and Belgium.
Not to mention the scraps elsewhere, with RB trying to keep Haas out of sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, a revitalized Williams doing its best to get involved, and a whole host of drivers going head-to-head.
Great situation then, before two decisive triple matches…
