Four things that must be FIXED when F1 resumes
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![Four that need to be fixed when F1 returns](https://webp.gp.cdn.pxr.nl/news/2024/08/14/1fc2022b0caa7f2eaed5f0fa9d428e24288e9913.jpg?width=1800)
The restart of the 2024 Formula 1 season is now on the horizon. On the 25 August, action resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. But drivers have a little bit more time to reflect, relax and curate a plan of attack for the final 10 Grands Prix. Here are five things that must be fixed in the F1 world when racing resumes.
Norris' poor starts need to be eliminated
It's costing Norris. His fans can come up with a myriad of excuses, but there's one thing that Norris can fix himself directly. He has been getting off the line poorly for much of the season. In Hungary and Belgium, it cost him dearly. It's not just his initial launch but also his plan of attack (or defence) at the first corner. These issues were already apparent when Lewis Hamilton taught him a lesson at the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race. It might only have been a sprint, but he potentially lost some key points there.
But the bigger issue lies in Hungary. Had he not lost out to his teammate Oscar Piastri off the start line in Hungary, he probably would've removed the debacle over the team radio and had control of the situation himself. Norris also lost out in Belgium at the start. He qualified ahead of Piastri, who finished on the podium. In fact, he started seven places ahead of Verstappen, and on lap two, the drivers were next to each other on track. Verstappen gained three positions, and Norris lost three positions due to a mistake at turn one.
If he really wants to take a challenge to Max Verstappen, he must fix this problem. The Dutchman only rarely makes mistakes. Norris can't afford to make any with a 78-point deficit.
Perez's sliding form
Sergio Perez has been given the chance to complete the season after mounting pressure in recent race weekends. Non more so than the Belgian Grand Prix. He started on the front row, only to finish last out of the front runners. Not much explanation is needed for this point. It is simple. Sergio Perez needs to improve. Otherwise, he could cost Red Bull glory.
McLaren's risk factor
With ten races to go, McLaren has a 42-point gap to Red Bull in the Constructors' World Championship. It is a deficit that can be overturned in one single Grand Prix weekend. But that's, of course, (likely) relying on a double DNF from Red Bull.
All that means they have a decent chance of catching Red Bull, especially when considering the form of Sergio Perez. But they just need to roll the dice a little bit more. Take some more attacking decisions when it comes to pitstops. Put Red Bull Racing under pressure. Create some radio tension between Max Verstappen and GP. They have perhaps already left it too late in the drivers' World Championship, but they shouldn't give up this chance so easily but just simply trying to do the 'correct things'.
Is Hamilton bouncing back into problems?
At the start of the season, Ferrari looked like the closest challenger to Red Bull Racing. But they have since been overtaken by McLaren and now Mercedes. After a rosey weekend that saw Charles Leclerc take a win at his home venue, things haven't been right for Ferrari. An upgrade was applied, but it caused a lot of unwanted bouncing. Everything seemed to be on the up for them with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton and speculation over an Adrian Newey arrival (which might still happen).
Fred Vasseur has promised to get these problems fixed very soon, and the noises coming from Ferrari suggest a fix is on the way once they correlate the data. They must be fixed. Otherwise, Hamilton will be back in the same position again.