Max Verstappen’s top challenger in the 2024 F1 sea✤son could be Lando Norris.

Ralf Schumacher believes the impressive McLaren driver coul☂d take a further step forward and establish himseꦕlf as the top contender to the championship reign of Verstappen.

Schumacher also considered ♊whether Lewis Hamilton or George Russell could emerge in the title picture.

“It all depends on the car,” he told the  podc🐷ast.

“Mercedes? If they are finally back. They still have to p𝓰rov🉐e because you know how difficult it is.

“They lo💎oked very up and down on performance [last year]. So let’s cross finger๊s that they do.”

But Schumacher insists Verstappen’s nearest competitor could come from the team who took a massiv﷽e step forwards midway through last season.

“McLaren? Could be possible,” he said.

“I am a big fan o🦩f Oscar Piastri. The only thing is, he still seems to be ♋a bit weak in the racing speed.

“I think he is amazing in his qualifying perform🐬ance🧸. He never makes a mistake and he’s always there, so that’s great.

“Lando is an am๊azing racer but maybe he sometimes wants too much in qualifying.

“He could be the one to ꩲchalleౠnge Max if the car is…”

Norris secur෴ed seven F1 grand prꩲix podium finishes last season.

Each of them was claimed from Silverstone onwards, as McLaren benefitted hugely from a mid-season upgrade which, at some stages, took them closer t💃o Re𓆏d Bull than the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari or Aston Martin.

McLare👍n have tied down their hugely ꦜpromising driver Norris to a new contract.

Norris pocketed $15m in 2023, report.

But with his new deal, he is expected to shoot higher up the list of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 driver salaries.

His bumper new𓆏 deal should also fend off potential interest from Red Bull.