Was Norris' dominance in Singapore in vain? Our verdict on the F1 title

Lando Norris dominated the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix despite several near-collisions with the wall.

But with Max Verstappen finishing right behind him in the results list, albeit 20.9 seconds behind, and Daniel Ricciardo's RB denied Norris the bonus point for the fastest lap, the difference in the title race is now 52 seconds with six weekends to go.

So is it too little, too late for Norris and McLaren? Or does this dominant win mean that Norris' title fight is really on? Our writers have their say:

Surprising result gives Verstappen control

Scott Mitchell-Malm

Verstappen's winless streak continues and it is another loss to Norris, but for Verstappen this result comes just in time to halt his own decline, even if he cannot help but lose some points to his nearest rival.

After two very difficult weekends in Monza and Baku, it was crucial for Verstappen to get back on the podium to minimise the damage that Norris could do. There were moments during the race when it didn't seem possible at all.

And yet Verstappen finished in second place, controversially supported by the other The Red Bull team takes the fastest lap away from Norris at the very end and loses “only” seven points.

Considering how fast Ferrari looked in the race and that Oscar Piastri was left behind in the second McLaren, Verstappen could easily have finished fifth, which would have meant a drop of 15 points.

While this hasn't exactly helped him turn the momentum back in his favour in the championship battle, it does go a long way to calming things down – a reminder that even when Norris/McLaren dominate a single race, Verstappen is still in control.

With Red Bull's planned upgrades, he may have finally overcome his worst phase of the season.

If that is the case and he is still over 50 points ahead, he can secure the title without much stress.

A fourth title for Verstappen would not be child's play, but a lame undertaking

Matt Beer

Days like today make it seem like we are facing a paradoxical end to the season, with Verstappen barely able to win his fourth title and at the same time being the greatest championship win of all time.

Such dominance is all well and good for Norris, but it will not be enough if Verstappen keeps taking second places when his teammate is barely scoring points, and there is no guarantee that Norris will hold on to his lead rather than disappearing back into shakier territory as he has done since his similar dominance at Zandvoort last month.

Norris just has to keep doing a perfect job

Gary Anderson

There is little Norris can do other than he did in Singapore. He can only keep his head down, do his best to win as many of the next six Grands Prix as possible and hope that a few other cars can squeeze in between him and Verstappen.

It is a difficult task, but not impossible.

Again, it must be said that the McLaren duo is the strongest in the field. Once again, Norris and Piastri together helped McLaren take another step towards the Constructors' Championship, which is a big payday for the team.

Whatever the outcome, the strategic decisions made in Hungary and Italy could come back to haunt the team if they fail to win the double title.

Success of Red Bull's solution will decide title

Josh Suttill

Norris has a good chance of winning the title if he manages to dominate a race two out of four weekends, as he has done since the summer break.

But that will all depend on what the performance profile of Red Bull and McLaren looks like after this pseudo-autumn break.

We know more or less what to expect from the McLaren, but Red Bull is the crucial question mark: will the corrections it will make at the US Grand Prix improve the RB20's performance significantly enough?

If it suddenly becomes neck and neck with McLaren, Verstappen should comfortably cross the finish line with his lead of 51 points.

But if it fails and Red Bull stays where it is, then there will be more damaging weekends where Ferrari and Piastri don't fail in qualifying. Suddenly the well-managed three to eight point loss to Norris becomes more like a 12 to 15 point loss.

And that will to turn the title fight around and let Verstappen rely on McLaren continuing to miss chances or be unlucky in order to have any chance of a fourth title.