Lando Norris F1 title bid doomed by 30-year curse

Lando Norris headed into the F1 season the odd-on favourite to clinch his first drivers' championship, having finished runner-up to Max Verstappen last year.

Bolstered by racing for constructors' title-winning McLaren, it was anticipated that the combination of the British driver and the MCL39 would be a force to be reckoned with this term.

Three rounds into the year, the 25-year-old does indeed lead the fight for the drivers' crown, but only by a single point to Verstappen after the Dutchman claimed a superb victory at Suzuka.

The Red Bull star led home Norris in second, who was unable to apply sufficient and sustained pressure on the four-time champion due to the flowing nature of the circuit, which makes it difficult to follow closely and overtake.

However, more damning than losing ground in the title fight, is that not since 1994, when Michael Schumacher secured his first of seven championships, has the driver who finished second in the Japanese Grand Prix finished the year atop the standings.

Whilst, on the flip side, winning does not promise Verstappen anything, it is a bad omen for Norris, who looks set to fight with team-mate Oscar Piastri across the course of the campaign, at the least.

Can the British driver put an end to the curse, which stretches over 30 years after now-dismissed Sergio Perez came home second behind Verstappen at Suzuka last season?