Is Norris expecting Red Bull and Verstappen at the front in Qatar?

Lando Norris expects Mercedes and Ferrari to be back on top in Qatar. Formula 1 drivers and teams have flown from Las Vegas to Qatar for the penultimate Grand Prix of the 2024 season. The drivers' championship may be decided already, but the constructors' championship is still up for grabs.

Mercedes was the fastest car in Las Vegas. George Russell started in pole position and drove to victory. Lewis Hamilton had to start from P10 but finished in second place. Ferrari followed next. Carlos Sainz took P3, and Charles Leclerc finished fourth. Norris expects Mercedes to be strong again in Qatar.

"Mercedes were very quick here last year," Norris told GPblog and others in Qatar. "So they're probably the favourites coming into this weekend. But it was close. Red Bull were good last year as well. I'm expecting a good battle," he continued.

McLaren is 24 points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' championship. There are two more races on the calendar. Qatar and Abu Dhabi. "I'm hoping it probably favours us a little bit more than Ferrari, but Ferrari fixed a lot of their woes that they were struggling with last year. So honestly no idea but when you look at things, Ferrari and Mercedes seem like the guys in a better flow at the minute."

This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton