Lando Norris has revealed his plans to ensure a sustained title bid this year following the surprise launch of the McLaren MCL39.
Lando Norris is gearing up for the 2025 Formula 1 season with renewed confidence and a clear goal: to take the fight to Max Verstappen on equal terms.
The 2024 season was a rollercoaster for McLaren and Norris, starting off as an underdog before emerging as a legitimate title contender.
However, despite McLaren’s remarkable turnaround, Norris ultimately fell short of dethroning Verstappen, learning tough lessons along the way.
McLaren’s 2024 resurgence
The year began with McLaren trailing behind Red Bull, Ferrari, and even Mercedes regarding outright performance.
Red Bull, led by the dominant Verstappen, appeared poised for another uncontested championship run. However, a critical turning point came in May when McLaren introduced a comprehensive upgrade package at the Miami Grand Prix. From that moment on, the MCL38 became arguably the strongest car on the grid, allowing Norris to consistently challenge Verstappen for race victories.
McLaren’s resurgence also helped them edge out Ferrari to claim the constructors’ title, a historic achievement that underlined just how much progress the Woking-based team had made. Red Bull, on the other hand, struggled with car balance issues, leading to an unprecedented 10-race winless streak. Despite this, Verstappen’s early-season dominance meant he had already built an insurmountable lead in the drivers’ standings, making it nearly impossible for Norris to overhaul him.
The Norris vs. Verstappen battle
Throughout 2024, Norris and Verstappen found themselves in intense on-track duels, but the dynamics of these battles were shaped by the points deficit that Norris had to overcome. Verstappen, secure in his championship lead, could afford to be aggressive, while Norris had to balance risk and reward to maximise his points tally carefully.
Speaking to Autosport, Norris explained:
“With how he [Verstappen] drives and the risks that he takes and the aggressiveness that he has, there was almost no way that I could come back from the deficit that I had,”
“Because there would have been too many scenarios that replicated Mexico or replicated the Red Bull Ring – that kind of thing where we were both out in a way and that benefited him more than it benefited me.”
“The main thing is just starting off on the right foot, which changes the mentality of every driver,” Norris said. “It would be [a different] mentality for Max if he’s 50 points behind versus 50 points ahead. That’s the biggest key difference.”
Lessons learned and 2025 ambitions
Despite falling short in 2024, Norris took away invaluable lessons from his battles with Verstappen. He acknowledged that he wasn’t at the level he needed to be in those wheel-to-wheel fights but showed signs of improvement as the season progressed.
“It was a tough year, but I learnt a lot from those moments,” the 25-year-old said. “There’s definitely things I need to do better. I’ll always be the first to admit it – I don’t need people telling me this kind of thing, [as] I have people that help me through these situations and advise me.
“Definitely, Texas Turn 1 up the hill [where Norris left the door open on the inside for Verstappen] was just poor on my behalf. I know that better than anyone else. There are definitely things I need to tighten up on and improvements that I’ve got to make and I feel I already at the end of last year improved on those situations.
“I know I wasn’t at the level that I needed to be when I first went into those battles with Max – that was clear. And I take that on the chin. It hurts. It’s always going to hurt when you’re mixing it at times and you don’t come out on top.
“That’s the way it is in life sometimes. As long as I learn and don’t make them [mistakes] multiple times, that’s the way it is and I need to do a better job.”
Will they clash again?
When asked if he needs to make a point to Verstappen as they inevitably rub shoulders in 2025, he replied: “I need to get my elbows out and I need to show him that I’m not going to willingly give him positions – those kinds of things.
“But I just have to be a smart driver. You have to be a smart driver to go up against Max. I look forward to it.“
A season of unfinished business for Norris
As 2025 approaches, the rivalry between Norris and Verstappen is set to be one of the defining narratives of the season. McLaren’s ability to maintain its competitive edge will be crucial, as will Norris’ growth as a racer capable of going toe-to-toe with the reigning champion.
With a level playing field, Norris has the chance to prove that he’s not just a rising star but a genuine title contender who can take the fight to Verstappen and come out on top.
Feature Image Credit: McLaren Media
