McLaren driver Lando Norris is no longer an underrated up-and-coming Formula 1 driver.
The 2024 F1 season saw McLaren finally end their long wait for a constructors’ championship title.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri proved that they were no longer young drivers with potential but stars who could one day go on to win championships.
Norris ended his long wait for a first Grand Prix victory in Miami and Piastri added his name to Formula 1’s illustrious list of race winners in Hungary, albeit with some clumsy team orders needed.
McLaren ended last season with the fastest car on the grid, although Ferrari were almost on a level par with the Woking-based team and will be even more threatening in 2025 with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at their disposal.
With Red Bull having ground to make up over the winter, it’s yet to be seen whether Max Verstappen is going to be in a position to win a fifth consecutive title.
However, Norris and every other driver on the grid will know that it’s way too early to write off the Dutchman even if Red Bull are slightly behind the likes of McLaren and Ferrari.
Norris was being interviewed at McLaren’s car launch at Silverstone on The Fast and The Curious Podcast about his 2025 title ambitions.
He made a surprising admission that he’s not even thought about winning the championship yet, despite Nico Rosberg declaring Norris the favourite to win the 2025 title at the end of last season.
Lando Norris hasn’t thought about winning the 2025 Formula 1 world championship
Norris was asked if he’s thought a lot about winning the drivers’ championship this year and quickly replied: “No.
“No, no I haven’t,” Norris continued and when accused jokingly that he must be lying, he continued: “No, I’m really not!
“I haven’t, I haven’t even thought of it yet.
“When you say it, I think about it. But I’m not going around every day like, oh I can’t wait!”
READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration
Norris also admitted that he’s been told by multiple people that he’s the favourite to win the championship and joked that he’d like a cut of anyone’s winnings if they do bet on him.
That level of calm is going to be vital to Norris across all 24 races if he stands a chance of seeing off his title rivals.
McLaren may have to manage Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s 2025 expectations
Many expect the 2025 F1 season to be the closest championship battle in years.
Last season’s top four teams will all believe that they have the potential to win races, but each manufacturer faces different challenges.
Mercedes and Red Bull will feel they can fully back George Russell and Verstappen respectively, with youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson likely to use 2025 to get up to speed.
READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
McLaren and Ferrari could start the campaign with slightly quicker cars but also have two drivers who will view 2025 as the perfect chance to win a championship.
Zak Brown has admitted McLaren’s team orders haven’t always worked perfectly, but refining those instructions could earn one of their drivers a precious title.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur faces arguably an even more difficult challenge if he has to ask Hamilton to support Leclerc for whatever reason, given Ferrari chiefs expect Hamilton to be their number one driver.
These are all fascinating subplots leading into a season that should have F1 fans dreaming about the first race in Australia already.
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