As the F1 2025 season gears up for its opener in Australia this weekend, British driver Lando Norris has been reining in expectations for his team, McLaren, despite their promising pre-season performance.
Norris, who has been touted as a potential successor to compatriot Lewis Hamilton, has been keen to keep a level-headed approach amidst the growing hype surrounding McLaren. His team’s exceptional race run on the second day of pre-season testing had certainly caught the attention of the paddock, prompting rival powerhouses Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes to single out McLaren as a team to watch this season.
Nevertheless, the British driver has expressed his disbelief at what he terms as a “short-sightedness” in the predictions for his team’s performance in Melbourne. He pointed out that McLaren’s commendable Bahrain test was conducted under optimal conditions, which might have painted a rosier picture than what may be the reality.
Norris explained his stance, saying, “It was a good race run, but it was also in the most perfect conditions. Oscar [Piastri] did a race run the next day that was a lot slower — not because he drove worse, but simply because the conditions on the final day were considerably slower.”
The British driver further chided the quick conclusions drawn before the season has even begun. While he appreciates the publicity and the underdog narrative, Norris insists his focus remains on McLaren’s performance and not on external chatter.
Despite the expectations, Norris does not see McLaren as having a significant advantage over their main competitors. He iterated, “I still think it’s going to be a tough weekend for us and we’re going to be fighting everyone, but I think we’re in a good position to start off in a strong way and in a confident way. That’s what we want to be in and that’s how we want to start the season.”
In a surprising turn, Norris pointed towards McLaren’s rivals as his picks for the weekend, particularly Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. He revealed his insights into Ferrari’s testing strategy, hinting at their potential speed for the upcoming weekend.
The British driver stated, “I know how much fuel and stuff Ferrari had for a lot of the testing. You’d be surprised at how quick they’re going to be this weekend.”
Despite the predictions and the speculation, Norris and his team remain focused on their own performance, expecting to be competitive but not necessarily leading the pack as many have suggested. The season opener in Australia promises to be an exciting watch as the predictions and reality collide on the track.
