Damon Hill, the 1996 World Champion, has predicted that Max Verstappen will clinch the F1 2024 title “by a whisker.” However, Red Bull’s overall outlook is not as positive.
Verstappen entered the F1 2024 season aiming for his fourth consecutive World Championship. Initially, it seemed he was poised for another dominant performance similar to last season. However, with Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes all securing race wins this year, Verstappen and Red Bull’s dominance has been interrupted. McLaren, in particular, has emerged as a significant threat in the Constructors’ Championship, narrowing the gap to Red Bull to just 42 points.
Lando Norris from McLaren is the closest challenger to Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings, trailing by 78 points. Hill believes Verstappen will hold off Norris’s challenge but anticipates McLaren will clinch their first Constructors’ title since 1998. Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Hill said, “Who’s going to win the Drivers’ Championship? I think it’s going to be Max by a whisker. And the Constructors’ Championship will be McLaren.”
Hill foresees Verstappen securing his fourth title around the Brazilian Grand Prix, round 21 of 24. He noted, “You still need luck to win races. And whilst you can have an advantage and win by a whisker, which is sort of what we’re seeing with Max at the moment, you only need one drop-out and that’s 26 points out the window, with fastest lap.”
Red Bull’s chances of retaining the Constructors’ title largely hinge on Sergio Perez’s performance. The team has decided to stick with Perez despite his struggles, but Hill suggested Red Bull might consider replacing him if they believe the title is slipping away. “Maybe they might bite the bullet and say, ‘We’re going to lose the Constructors’ Championship. What’s that worth to us in millions of dollars? And if we front up some millions of dollars for Checo to go somewhere else, then it’s worth it in the long run,’” Hill speculated.
With ten rounds remaining in the F1 2024 season, the competition is heating up. The next race at Zandvoort, Verstappen’s home race, could be pivotal.
As the F1 2024 season progresses, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Red Bull to see if they can overcome the increasing challenges. While Verstappen is tipped to secure his fourth title, the battle for the Constructors’ Championship remains fiercely competitive.
