As the 2025 Formula 1 season gears up, Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, welcomes the shift of focus from his team to McLaren and its star driver Lando Norris. The previous season saw the championship honours divided between the two teams, with McLaren seizing the Constructors’ title while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen defended his individual crown.
Despite an impressive start with a quartet of victories claimed in the first five races, Red Bull’s championship aspirations faltered amidst a mid-season slump. This stumble provided an opportunity for McLaren to seize control, overtaking the points lead with just seven races left on the calendar.
The Woking-based team’s ability to resist Ferrari’s late-season push enabled them to attain the coveted championship title. This success, coupled with their retention of the 2024’s benchmark car, led many to peg McLaren as the likely frontrunners for the forthcoming season.
Norris, who finished second to Verstappen the previous year, acknowledged the heightened expectations, commenting that there are “no excuses” for not capturing both titles. Horner, however, views this as a potential advantage for Red Bull. He suggests that the initial races of the season won’t provide a definitive indicator of how the teams stack up.
Speaking at the F1 75 season launch in London, Horner shared his thoughts with the media, including Motorsport Week. “It’s sometimes good not to be the favourite. It puts the pressure on others. I’d be very happy to see Lando [Norris] go into the first race as the favourite, but it’s meaningless until we get to that first race,” he said.
Despite the speculations and predictions, Verstappen maintains a steady focus on improving the team’s performance. His priority is to rectify the issues that plagued their RB20 model the previous year. Verstappen insists there’s no point in focusing on others, underscoring the need to work on their car.
On the other hand, McLaren seems to be thriving under the weight of championship expectations. Their innovative approach to their 2025 challenger, the MCL38, is accompanied by a determined focus and a sense of unity within the team. McLaren CEO Zak Brown expressed his positive outlook on being the team to beat, saying, “We’re just head down, very focused, not taking anything for granted, working very hard, but working really well together.”
The anticipation for the forthcoming season is palpable as it promises to be a fascinating contest between the titans of the circuit. The question that remains is – can McLaren maintain their momentum, or will Red Bull manage to regain their dominance? Only time will tell.
