Lando Norris is done with playing catch-up. After falling short in the 2024 Formula 1 season, the McLaren star has made his ambitions loud and clear—he’s going all-in for the championship.
But to do that, Norris knows there’s one massive roadblock standing in his way: Max Verstappen.
The three-time world champion has set the benchmark with his aggressive racing style, and as Norris learned last season, taking on Verstappen isn’t just about speed—it’s a mental battle.
“There were some things that I didn’t do a good enough job,” Norris admitted at McLaren’s MCL39 launch in Silverstone.
“I wasn’t simply at the level that I need to be to race against Max.”
Now, Norris is preparing for a different kind of fight—one where he won’t be giving Verstappen any easy ground.
Lessons from 2024: Why Fighting Verstappen Is Unlike Any Other Battle
Last season, Norris locked horns with Verstappen multiple times, and the clashes weren’t always clean.
- Austria: A collision while battling for the lead ended Norris’ race.
- Austin: A controversial wheel-to-wheel fight saw Norris penalized for an off-track overtake.
- Mexico: Verstappen pushed Norris wide while defending, earning the Dutchman a sanction.
The lesson? Verstappen isn’t just fast—he’s ruthless.
“Max is probably one of the hardest attacking/defense guys you can ever go up against,” Norris admitted. “We saw in Mexico—he willingly sacrificed himself for the overall outcome.”
That level of calculated aggression is something Norris now understands he needs to counter.
The Plan: Smarter, Tougher, and No More Early-Season Deficits
Norris knows that trying to out-aggress Verstappen isn’t necessarily the answer.
“I need to get my elbows out and show him I’m not going to willingly give him any positions,” he said. “But I also have to be a smart driver.”
What does that mean?
- Better positioning in battles to make Verstappen work harder for overtakes.
- Avoiding unnecessary risks that could cost him points in the long run.
- Shifting the pressure onto Verstappen by staying close in the championship standings.
One of Norris’ biggest frustrations last season was falling behind early. After just five races, he had already lost 52 points to Verstappen. From that point onward, he nearly matched him point-for-point, but the damage was already done.
“Being in his position, you can always see it as the vulnerable position,” Norris explained. “But with how he drives and the risks he takes, there was almost no way I could come back from the deficit I had.”
For Norris, the key in 2025 will be starting strong—putting Verstappen in a position where he, too, has something to lose.
McLaren’s Role: Can the MCL39 Keep Norris in the Fight?
It’s not just about Norris stepping up—McLaren must deliver a car that’s fast from race one.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admitted that last season, the title battle was lost in Miami, where Verstappen had already built an unstoppable lead.
“Lando learned very fast and definitely now has all the qualities and mindset to become a world champion,” Stella said.
“The pressure is on the team. The first takeaway is to give the drivers a car that can allow them to fight for podiums and wins right from the start.”
With Oscar Piastri also developing into a serious contender, McLaren could have two drivers capable of challenging Red Bull—but it all hinges on how competitive the MCL39 is out of the gate.
Norris’ Mindset: No More Excuses, No More Regrets
Norris isn’t pretending he was flawless last season.
“I know I wasn’t at the level that I needed to be at when I first went into those battles with Max. That was clear.”
But he’s not dwelling on the past—he’s using it as fuel.
“It hurts. It’s always going to hurt when you look silly at times and don’t come out on top. But that’s the way it is in life sometimes.”
And if McLaren gives him the right tools? Norris is ready to go to war.
“I need to do a better job,” he said. “And I will.”
The Verdict: Can Norris Take Down Verstappen?
- Yes, if McLaren delivers a strong car from the start.
- Yes, if Norris races smarter and doesn’t give Verstappen easy ground.
- Yes, if he applies the lessons from 2024 and doesn’t fall behind early.
With Red Bull’s dominance finally showing cracks, 2025 could be Norris’ best shot at dethroning Verstappen.
And this time, he won’t be giving up any positions without a fight.