F1 fans torn over season-defining Lando Norris question

Lando Norris sits 91 points behind Kimi Antonelli after 11 rounds of his title-defending season, and opinion is firmly split on whether he can haul himself back into the fight to retain his crown.

At the expected halfway stage of the campaign, the reigning champion finds himself fifth in the standings on 128 points.

A DNS in China due to an electrical fault, a gearbox failure in Canada, and a battery issue in Monaco have collectively robbed him of what could have been a significantly healthier points tally, and the MCL40 has not been strong or consistent enough to keep him in touch with the Mercedes at the front.

Yet amid the frustration, there have been flashes of the form that carried Norris to last year's title. His pole-to-flag victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, his first grand prix win of the year, was a reminder of just how formidable he remains when the car is beneath him.

A sprint win in Miami, a second-place finish in the main race there, and a podium in Barcelona further underline that the speed has not deserted him.

With 302 points still theoretically available across the remaining 11 rounds, including two sprint weekends, a comeback is mathematically feasible.

In practice, however, it would require Norris to outscore Antonelli by an average of more than eight points per race weekend, a tall order against a driver who has been remarkably consistent in the W17.

Norris himself remains bullish. "I am doing a better job this year compared to last year when I won the world championship," he said after Hungary, before adding: "When the car is good and when I'm in a good flow, there's no stopping [me]."

When RacingNews365 put the question to readers, the response reflected the uncertainty surrounding Norris's title defence.

Opinion was almost evenly split three ways, with a slim majority believing he remains in the hunt, though roughly half of those expect him to ultimately fall short. A notable minority, meanwhile, have already written off his chances entirely despite the Hungaroring triumph.

It is a debate that will only intensify as the second half of the season unfolds, starting with the Dutch Grand Prix. 

Whether McLaren can deliver the upgrades Norris needs to sustain Hungary-level competitiveness will determine which camp proves right.

Check out the full results from the latest poll by RacingNews365 below!