He could well be right. From a margin as large as eight seconds with 20-odd laps to go – with Norris himself thwarting Charles Leclerc’s challenge behind him – the McLaren driver cut the deficit to the leader to 0.7 seconds by the chequered flag, with both Verstappen and Norris pushing their machinery to the absolute limit, no holds barred.
On an Imola circuit with only one DRS zone, could Norris have actually overtaken Verstappen at the death? We’ll never know. What the surprise late onslaught does tell us though – in what was, until that point, a largely uneventful 63-lap race – is that it seems Red Bull are no longer the indestructible, uncatchable juggernaut of 2023.
To the relief of most fans of Formula One, the chasing pack is finally carving away at their advantage. “The first half [of the race] was very strong but the second half of that last stint, Lando started to catch us very quickly,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. “The cars are converging after the latest upgrades, they are looking very similar. McLaren were very quick at this circuit and Ferrari as well.”
This season already tells us that the gap is closing. While Red Bull claimed an astonishing 21 wins from 22 races last year, they’ve already missed out twice this year after seven grands prix.
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Independent ã® May 21, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Independent ã® May 21, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã8,500 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Politicians and NHS 'failed' to act on key Savile inquiry
The NHS and government have failed to implement a single recommendation from a key Jimmy Savile inquiry â almost 10 years after plans to prevent future sex abuse of patients in hospitals were put forward, The Independent can reveal.
Are we witnessing the death of distinctive British TV?
'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' was a critical smash for ITV but lost the broadcaster money. Katie Rosseinsky explains why, in an age of overseas sales, 'global appeal' is the new reality
The Independent Pride List 2024: LGBT+ people who are making change happen
Our list celebrates community's trailblazers and ambassadors
Djokovic beats Musetti in early morning five-set epic
Novak Djokovic endured a ridiculous late-night ordeal against Lorenzo Musetti to reach the fourth round of the French Open. The world number one and defending champion's match was shoved back into the early hours due to the incessant rain which has seen this tournament dubbed the \"Drench Open\".
Race against time to halt rabies spread from Ukraine
A disease that has been largely eradicated from Europe is raising its head in a war-torn country where millions of abandoned pets are running wild. Ahead of a film exposing the public health crisis, Joe Shute talks to those affected
Mandela's ANC loses grip on power in South Africa
Historic election result means party must enter coalition
Modi set for landslide Indian election victory
BJP-led alliance is projected to win more than 350 seats
Netanyahu casts doubt on latest Gaza ceasefire plan
Israeli prime minister vows to continue war until 'Hamas is destroyed' as Joe Biden urges right-wing leader to accept deal
Ticketmaster cyberattack puts data of millions at risk
Ticketmaster has been the subject of a cyberattack, with hackers allegedly offering to sell data about hundreds of millions of customers on the dark web.
Father with brain injury denied disability benefits
A man who needs full-time care after a bicycle collision left him with a traumatic brain injury has been repeatedly refused benefits by the Home Office.