Lando Norris says McLaren will have no excuses in F1 2025 regarding winning either or both of the world championships, as he notes about thriving under pressure.
Having secured the constructors’ championship in F1 2024, McLaren has been tagged as favourites considering the pace advantage over its nearest rivals. And there is no excuse as well as per Norris, who notes that it is given that bookies will mark them as the ones to beat.
Not just McLaren, but even Norris is pegged as the one to take the drivers’ title. When talking about the season, he thinks if the team can do a good job at the onset of the season, they will be then in a good position to fight for both the championships together with Piastri.
“I hope so, for sure,” said Norris in a press conference in F1 75. “I think after last year we have no excuses, I guess. In the past we’ve had our fair share, but honest and true I think this year we have nothing to hide behind. We proved last year we have everything we need and everything it takes to fight at the top and be the best. If we’re not at the beginning of the season we’re just not good enough and we’ve not done a good enough job.
“That’s certainly not how we’re thinking, that’s not where are mentality has been. We ended the season and I guess as we ended the season our next season started for all the guys and girls back at the factory giving us a car with which we can compete. All of what Formula 1 is, is having a car that can compete. I think we both as drivers proved a lot last year in ourselves and in each other of what we are capable of doing, and when we do have a car that’s capable of fighting for wins and championships we’re able to maximise it.
“So, I think we’d probably both say we’re ready and excited for that challenge. But we also have a whole team behind us who are also excited. They know they are capable of making a quick car, so we’re excited for those challenges this season. Maybe in the past we’ve gotten ahead of ourselves in the pre-season, so we’re definitely not doing that.
“But we’re quietly confident we can start the season off in the best way, much better than we’ve done of the last six, seven years,” summed up Norris, who was also asked about the pressure on him and McLaren considering the favourites tag. The Brit wants to believe that they are still underdogs.
He knows there is more expectation but he says he thrives on it. “I mean, as much as we want to believe that we’re the best, I guess we still want to feel like we’re underdogs,” said Norris. “We have a lot to fight for and try to improve every minute of every day. And of course, there’s going to be more pressure. There’s more pressure on the whole team and I guess every individual in the team – there’s over 1000 people.
“Everyone’s going to be thinking it: ‘we did it last year, there’s going to be more eyes on us, more expectation on every single one of us’. I’m sure they’ve thought of what else can they do to improve because they don’t want to be the person that doesn’t add that half a tenth, or 0.001s or 0.0002s even. So, everyone’s going to be feeling the pressure, but I think we all know it.
“We’ve acknowledged it, we’ve accepted it – including myself. I know coming into this season for a lot of people I’m the favourite, and as a team we’re the favourites. A lot of people think pressure is a bad thing but for me it’s really the opposite. It’s a good thing. I’ve always done much better under pressure. I’m able to think and focus much more under pressure.
“So, everyone has their own way of doing things. I still get nervous and have pressure, and I know it’s there. But my best performances have often come when it is around. There are more eyes, more expectation on me to prove I’ve stepped it up again from where I did last year. I had a good year but it’s clear I needed to improve in many areas, especially in my fighting against Max.
“But I’m not going to be fighting just Max this season; I’m going to be fighting this guy on my left [Oscar Piastri] and many other drivers. I have to make sure I am ready to fight against everyone and take the step up and I am excited to perform,” summed up Norris.
Here’s more BTS from F1 75 plus thoughts
Here’s Oscar Piastri on confidence
Here’s McLaren revealing MCL39
Here’s McLaren joining hands with Allwyn
Here’s McLaren extending deal with Peter Prodromou
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