RaceFans Round-up:

In the round-up: Max Verstappen says McLaren failed to capitalise on the opportunities they had in 2024.

In brief

McLaren missed opportunities in 2024 – Verstappen

McLaren won the constructors’ championship this year but Lando Norris finished 63 points behind Verstappen at the top of the drivers’ standings. Verstappen was surprised McLaren allowed Norris’s team mate Oscar Piastri to take points off him even as the championship fight closed up in the second half of the year.

“‘You are allowed to race’ is fine,” said Verstappen. “But what’s the point? They should’ve handled that more effectively as a team.

“They clearly had a very good car this year, but they had a lot to learn about consistency. They did well in the constructors’ championship, but in the drivers’ championship, they could’ve been better prepared.”

McLaren “absolutely, 100%” missed opportunities during 2024, said Verstappen, who added he believed Norris could have beaten him to the title.

Duerksen stays at AIX in F2

Joshua Duerksen will stay with AIX in Formula 2 after winning twice for them in the final six races of his rookie season this year. The team’s sporting director Roland Rehfeld said he was “without any doubt, the most progressing and also surprising driver” on the grid.

“His achievements 2024 are underlining our ambitious goal, to fight permanently for the top ranks in 2025,” he added.

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