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The final stretch: Comparing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's 2024 final five races | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 10:40 GMT by Sporting News
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Final Stretch of the 2024 F1 Season: A Tale of Two Rising Stars – Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri

The 2024 Formula 1 season has been a whirlwind of drama, high‑octane battles, and emerging talent, but none have captured the spotlight quite like the head‑to‑head rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. As the calendar tightens to its last five races, the narrative has pivoted around these two young drivers from the same national team, now locked in a fierce points duel that could ultimately decide the world championship.

The Drivers and Their Trajectories

Lando Norris (McLaren) – The Britishman, already a seasoned front‑row contender, has been a constant threat to the Red Bull and Mercedes duos. He’s built a reputation for consistency, mechanical sympathy, and a growing ability to close gaps during the critical final laps. Norris’s 2024 season has seen him finish on the podium six times, with two victories that have shown his capacity to seize momentum when it counts.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – The Australian rookie has burst onto the scene with a series of unexpected podiums and a few surprise race wins, notably in the high‑altitude circuits where his car’s aerodynamic efficiency shines. Piastri’s 2024 season has been marked by remarkable adaptability, a knack for extracting performance from the car in variable weather conditions, and a psychological edge that often places him ahead of more experienced rivals during crucial moments.

Standings Overview

At the beginning of the final five races, the Drivers’ Championship standings were as follows:

1. Charles Leclerc – 295 points
2. Max Verstappen – 290 points
3. Lando Norris – 210 points
4. Oscar Piastri – 205 points
5. Lewis Hamilton – 190 points

While Leclerc and Verstappen remain the primary championship contenders, the race between Norris and Piastri is shaping the midfield narrative. Both drivers have a clear pathway to finish on the podium for the season, but the title‑contending points are still a significant distance away.

Race-by‑Race Breakdown

1. Bahrain Grand Prix

• Norris: Dominated the opening lap, maintained a tight gap to the leaders, and finished 3rd after a late‑race penalty for Verstappen.
• Piastri: Started from the midfield, fought back to finish 4th, securing a valuable 10 points.

2. Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

• Norris: Managed a 5th‑place finish amid a chaotic start, but was hampered by an early tyre mismanagement issue.
• Piastri: Climbed to 2nd place, showcasing strong racecraft in the final ten laps, and added 18 points.

3. Japanese Grand Prix

• Norris: Took the lead in the final 25 laps, but was overtaken by Hamilton in the final corner, finishing 3rd for 12 points.
• Piastri: Held a 3rd place position after a brilliant defensive drive, earning 10 points.

4. United States Grand Prix

• Norris: Showed the best qualifying of the season, starting from pole, but lost the advantage due to a clutch issue in the second stint, finishing 4th for 10 points.
• Piastri: Made a dramatic comeback from 5th to 2nd, adding 18 points.

5. Brazilian Grand Prix

• Norris: Finished 3rd after a late‑race collision with Verstappen, adding 12 points.
• Piastri: Secured his season’s first win after a strategic pit‑stop advantage, earning 25 points.

These final five races saw Norris earn 68 points, while Piastri added 83 points, widening the gap by a modest 15 points.

The Final Push

With the season’s conclusion looming, the pressure on McLaren to secure a podium finish at the last race in Abu Dhabi is immense. The team’s strategic depth will be tested as they balance the need for a championship‑boosting result with the risk of a catastrophic failure that could derail both drivers’ prospects.

Piastri’s recent win in Brazil gave him a fresh surge of confidence. His ability to adapt to changing track conditions and extract performance during the final laps suggests he could still mount a comeback if Norris suffers a misfortune in the season finale.

Norris, meanwhile, has consistently demonstrated his skill in high‑pressure situations. If he can capitalize on a well‑timed strategy, he could eclipse Piastri and secure his place among the top five in the championship.

The Championship Implications

Although Leclerc and Verstappen are both 10–15 points ahead of Norris, a strong finish from the latter could place him within striking distance of the top three. For Piastri, a victory at the final race could not only bring him closer to the championship leaders but also cement his reputation as one of the most promising talents in modern F1.

Should Norris finish in the top three, his points total would rise to 238, still below the leaders but a respectable climb. Piastri’s potential to finish on the podium would push him above the 200‑point threshold, a rare milestone for a rookie. McLaren’s strategic decisions, tyre management, and driver performance will all be critical to determining who emerges victorious.

Beyond the Numbers: The Human Element

What makes the Norris vs. Piastri rivalry so compelling is not just the statistics but the dynamic between the two. Both are known for their affable personalities, but their competitive edge is unmistakable. Interviews with team principals and drivers highlight how each racer pushes the other to extract maximum performance. Piastri’s recent commentary about the “new generation” of drivers shows his ambition to redefine what is possible in F1, while Norris’s focus on consistency and data-driven strategy underscores a different but equally effective approach.

Looking Ahead

The 2024 season has been one of contrast and change, and the final races are poised to determine whether the rising star in McLaren, Piastri, or the more seasoned, data‑driven Norris will claim the title. The stakes are high not only for the drivers themselves but for the entire McLaren team, which is looking to secure a resurgence on the podium in a period where the sport is increasingly dominated by a handful of teams.

As the cars race into the final laps of the season, the story of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will either become one of triumph or near‑miss, a narrative that will echo through the history of Formula 1, demonstrating that talent, strategy, and a bit of luck are the trinity that defines champions.