Lando Norris isn’t making excuses.
After falling short in the 2024 Formula 1 title fight against Max Verstappen, the McLaren star has candidly admitted he wasn’t at the level needed to dethrone the reigning champion.
But as he prepares for a fresh battle in 2025, Norris believes that with the right approach, the championship is within reach—and it doesn’t require anything extraordinary.
“I wasn’t simply quite at the level that I need to be to race against Max,” Norris confessed.
“He’s one of the hardest attacking-defensive drivers you can ever go up against.”
So, what does Norris need to do differently? Simple—start strong, be quicker, and stay ahead.
A Chaotic 2024 Rivalry—Verstappen’s Controversial Tactics vs. Norris’ Learning Curve
The 2024 season saw Verstappen and Norris clash multiple times, with their Mexico showdown standing out as a defining moment.
- Verstappen’s aggressive defensive driving drew criticism throughout the season.
- He wasn’t afraid to “sacrifice” his own race to hurt Norris’ chances in the championship fight.
- Norris struggled to break through Verstappen’s tactics despite McLaren’s impressive pace.
“Like we saw in Mexico, [Max] very willingly sacrificed himself for the benefit of the overall outcome,” Norris reflected.
This was a lesson learned the hard way—Verstappen’s experience in title fights allowed him to manipulate situations to his advantage, something Norris had to learn on the fly.
Now, he’s ready to apply that knowledge in 2025.
The Key to Beating Verstappen? Norris Says It’s Simple
Despite acknowledging Verstappen’s skill, aggression, and tactical brilliance, Norris isn’t overcomplicating things for 2025.
“I don’t think you have to do anything special to try and beat Max,” he explained.
“He’s quick, he’s aggressive, he’s one of the best ever. The easy way is just going out and being a bit quicker than him and staying ahead.”
In other words: no tricks, no mind games—just pure performance.
If McLaren can hit the ground running, Norris believes he can control his own fate rather than reacting to Verstappen’s tactics.
“I just need more points from the beginning, and hopefully it’s the other way around.”
A fast start is crucial—if Norris leads early, it’s Verstappen who’ll have to chase, not the other way around.
Can Norris and McLaren Deliver in 2025?
With the final year of the ground-effect era, multiple teams are expected to challenge for the title:
- McLaren is poised to fight from the start.
- Ferrari will be in the mix with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
- Mercedes hopes to bounce back into contention.
And, of course, Red Bull won’t be sitting still—Verstappen is already working to eliminate the weaknesses that nearly cost him in 2024.
“He’s going to work hard to improve,” Norris acknowledged. “I have to do the same.”
The 2025 F1 season is shaping up to be an all-out war—and this time, Norris plans to be ready from the very first lap.