Red Bull have already hurt Lando Norris’ 2025 F1 title chances by making one unusual decision – opinion

Lando Norris may reject the ‘favourite’ tag for the 2025 season. Embracing it would only increase the pressure.

Still, that pressure is undeniable. This is the final year of the ground-effect ruleset – a ruleset where McLaren appear to have moved ahead of Red Bull.

Logic dictates that Norris has a glorious opportunity to win this year’s championship. And with massive rule changes looming for 2026, it’s unclear how long he’ll have to wait for his next shot.

McLaren were the best team in F1 last year, which is why they won the title. The regulations for this year are effectively the same, so they have a clear advantage.

Ferrari were close enough – 14 points – that they could conceivably inch ahead. And while Red Bull were further back – 77 – they boast Max Verstappen, an all-time great driver who hasn’t been beaten since he climbed into a contending car.

But Nico Rosberg called Norris the 2025 title favourite, and he won’t be alone in that assessment. Verstappen had the luxury of a cushion last year after Red Bull’s early dominance, but now the Milton Keynes outfit may start on the back foot.

Red Bull’s strange Will Courtenay stance could stop McLaren addressing a key weakness

McLaren made one of the biggest off-track moves of the 2024 season by signing Red Bull strategy chief Will Courtenay. In doing so, they addressed one of their biggest deficiencies, and weakened their rivals.

Courtenay was under contract until midway through 2026, but the expectation was that he’d join earlier. As noted by The Race, it’s customary for two teams to negotiate a swifter exit in these circumstances.

But Red Bull have broken with that custom by insisting that Courtenay see out his deal. It’s a clear blow for McLaren, who hoped to welcome him as early as this season.

• READ MORE: Who is future McLaren sporting director Will Courtenay? All you need to know

The Englishman has been with Red Bull for two decades, helping Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen win four world championships apiece. These include closely-fought battles with Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and indeed Norris, where the team couldn’t rely on an innate car advantage.

Red Bull clearly outperformed McLaren strategically last year. Norris lost potential victories in Canada and Great Britain by either pitting too late or choosing the wrong compound of tyre.

McLaren have made changes in that department, promoting Oli Cartlidge to lead of race strategy. But they evidently view Courtenay as the centrepiece, and they won’t be able to tap into his skills in the season ahead.

McLaren’s pre-season warning doesn’t bode well for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

The margins between the top four teams are likely to be closer than ever in 2025. In that context, the strength of a team’s operation could be as important as the strength of their car.

Without Courtenay, McLaren might repeat their 2024 mistakes. And in the meantime, Christian Horner will still have access to one of F1’s top pit-wall minds.

Perhaps his stance on Courtenay isn’t a surprise. Red Bull felt McLaren’s rise last year was unfair, alleging that they used unlawful tricks to change F1’s competitive landscape, so there may be tension between the two.

Another key talking point will be team orders. Red Bull will continue to prioritise Verstappen, especially given Liam Lawson’s inexperience, but McLaren have warned that the team comes first, suggesting Norris and Piastri may have to sacrifice their own ambitions at key moments.