Norris: 2025 Imola GP “was a fun one”

Lando Norris started the 2025 Formula 1 Imola Grand Prix in fourth place. While the start of the race saw fast and frantic action at the front of the pack, most of the Imola GP was uneventful.

Fighting through the pack, he finished the Imola GP on the podium in P2. Speaking in the post-race press conference, Norris said the runner-up spot was “probably the best result” the McLaren driver could get. He said he did not expect the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, was going to be as fast as it was.

“It’s probably the best result I thought we could really achieve today. I probably just didn’t expect the Red Bull to be quite as quick as they were. I’m happy with second. From fourth, it was a good race. But, yeah, Max was too fast today. It was a fun one.”

McLaren needs to work on their performance in high-speed corners

Even though Norris finished in second, he claimed that his MCL39 didn’t feel great around the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. He highlighted cornering issues as the cause.

“I don’t know. It didn’t really feel great anywhere, to be honest. It didn’t feel wonderful to drive. But sometimes it doesn’t, and you’re just quick. So it’s a little bit difficult to say. It’s just a very bumpy track.”

“A lot of these high-speed corners, where we seem to maybe struggle a bit comparing to the Red Bulls. That’s where we’ve suffered the whole season so far, the high-speed corners.”

Norris also explained that the team, and he, needed to “work in those areas” to match Verstappen and Red Bull on Saturday’s.

“So we have to work in that area, and maybe that’s proved to hurt us a little bit more this weekend. But we said it from the beginning that we have to keep working hard. Max has outqualified us several times, and their pace just converted today onto Sunday.”

“Sometimes they’ve been ahead, but their pace on Sunday has not been too strong. They’ve maybe worked on some things, and their pace was better today. That’s the price we pay for not being quick enough.”

Norris and Piastri had a “good battle” during the 2025 Imola GP

When asked by the media about the move Norris pulled on his teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris explained that there weren’t team orders. Though not being sure if they touched in Turn 1, Norris claimed both of them were racing.

“Yeah. I mean, it was a good battle between us. I was just on the fresher tyres, so I was always going to have that slight advantage on him. And, yeah, just with the DRS, I managed to have a good last couple corners. I knew that was going to be probably my, not my one chance, but you saw once I passed him how easy it was to pull away.”

“It was clear he was just struggling with the tyres, which I think everyone did quite a lot of today. It was a close one. I don’t know how close we got into Turn 1, but we’re both racing, we both want to beat one another, and it was good that we could race close like that today.”

Norris hasn’t “even thought” about Monaco GP yet

Asked about his and McLaren’s expectations at the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, Norris answered with confidence. He did not add detail, however.

“I’ve not even thought of it yet, to be honest. So, yeah, normal amount [of confidence]. Whatever that is.”