« I can do it this year »: Lando Norris ready to take on Verstappen

During the presentation of the new McLaren MCL-39 at Silverstone, Lando Norris spoke to the journalists of Sky Sports F1. World Vice-Champion in 2024 and driver for a constructors’ championship-winning team, the Briton, now the bookmakers’ favorite for the title, finished 63 points behind Max Verstappen last year.

This year, his approach is different: “I don’t know, I’m taking it step by step. It’s a beautiful thing, so I appreciate all these guys and girls who are betting on me, but I’m focused on this year. I felt good after last season, I felt like I wanted to continue after Abu Dhabi, I finished on a high note and I knew I had areas to improve, but I proved to myself that I had what it takes,” Norris shared.

The main lesson of 2024 lies in the importance of a strong start to the season. Norris had accumulated a significant deficit during the first races, a handicap that proved insurmountable against Verstappen’s consistency: « The number of points we lost at the beginning of last season, during the first six, seven, or eight races, was quite shocking. So, coming back from that to win a championship was extraordinary. That’s why it was so special for us last year, but also for me, you know, to come back after a 50-point deficit against one of the best, if not the best driver in Formula 1 for a long time, at the level of Lewis, Seb, those guys, and Fernando. »

Norris’s attack plan

The mental evolution of the McLaren driver is particularly notable: « All my life, I told myself that I couldn’t, and it’s nice to finally tell myself that I can and that the opportunity is there. I’m not coming in with overconfidence or arrogance. I’m just changing, learning, finding new ways to motivate myself and feel good, and that’s part of these things: coming here telling myself ‘I can do it this year’. It’s probably better to tell myself that than to say ‘you’re not going to make it this year’. »

Faced with Verstappen, Norris developed a precise strategy. The on-track confrontations between the two drivers have been numerous in 2024, notably in Austria, the United States, and Mexico. These experiences have shaped his approach: « I need to assert myself and show that I won’t give up positions to him voluntarily, but I also need to be a smart driver – you have to be clever to face Max. I have nothing to prove to him. I don’t need to take unnecessary risks and exhaust myself trying. I don’t think anything special needs to be done to beat Max », he stated.

The maturity of the Brit is also reflected in his understanding of his rival’s racing style: « We’re talking about facing one of the toughest drivers, those who are as good in defense as in attack. As seen in Mexico, [he is ready to] sacrifice for the overall outcome, and when that’s a driver’s mentality, it’s very difficult to get the upper hand, especially when you’re 50 points behind. With his driving style, the risks he takes, and his aggressiveness, there was almost no chance I could close the gap I had. »

End of an era: an opportunity to seize

Another challenge awaits McLaren this season: managing internal rivalry with Oscar Piastri. Both drivers could find themselves in contention for the title, a situation Norris approaches with clarity: “I doubt it will be stress-free. I don’t think there’s ever been a situation where two teammates compete without pressure, so it’s inevitable. Oscar wants to prove his point, I want to continue doing what I’m doing and repeat what I did last year. Of course, we will discuss all these things with Andrea, Oscar, and myself, and we’ll be prepared, but I also know that Oscar comes with the hunger to succeed and he will offer me a good fight. He wants to show the world what he can do, so nothing worries me. I’m even excited about it!” he explained.

The 2025 season marks the end of a regulatory era, which could lead to a closer competition than ever. Norris sees this year as a unique opportunity: « I think every year where the regulations remain unchanged, it gets better and better. It’s the last evolution of this era of cars, everything will change next year. I think it’s going to be exciting. I hope it will be us, but I’m sure we will have opportunities where we will see Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, as well as other midfield teams… There’s no real midfield and back-of-the-grid anymore, it used to be us four and then the rest, but I feel like they will close that gap. »

The first laps of the new McLaren, MCL-39, at Silverstone were just a formality, but the ambition is clear at McLaren. This 2025 season, the last year of the current regulatory era, could very well mark a turning point in the career of the young Briton who, for the first time, sees himself legitimately as a serious contender for the world crown.