Lando Norris is entering a Formula 1 season as one of the favorites for the first time. He himself is not bothered by the increased pressure – McLaren doesn’t have to win the season opener.
In the new 2025 Formula 1 season, McLaren will not be starting as an outsider for the first time in a long while, but as a serious contender for the title. Lando Norris, who has been considered one of the greatest talents in the paddock for years, is thus facing a new challenge: dealing with the role of favorite. But how does it feel for the Briton?
“One of the biggest challenges is dealing with success,“ explains Norris. ‘How does the factory react to it? Do they all stay relaxed and think, ’We did it‘? Or do they say, ’That was good, but now we want more’?” He himself, of course, hopes for the latter.
But: with last season’s success, which ended with the Constructors’ Championship, there is of course increased pressure. So far, McLaren has never gone into a season as favorites – at least not in the time since Norris has been with the team.
Now the role is different. “But the mentality from last year has been retained, which was exactly the right thing to do,” he clarifies.
Can this also be implemented on the track?“We are still a relatively ‘young’ team compared to Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull,” he says when it comes to title experience. “But we have proven that we have what it takes.”
“We don’t expect it to be any easier this year – on the contrary, we expect it to be an even tougher season. But the team is trying to make it as easy as possible for me and Oscar as soon as we get out on track – and that’s exactly what you need,” says Norris.
Norris: Extra pressure doesn’t affect me
But it’s not just the team that is facing a new situation – Norris is too. The Brit was in with a chance of winning the title for a while, but he was never really in it, as his rival Max Verstappen always had a sufficiently large lead. Now, however, he has to cope with new pressures. But he can do that, as he says.
“It doesn’t affect me at all,” he says, dismissing the idea. ”It doesn’t change my sense of pressure. Last year, of course, expectations changed – for the team and for me. But every season is a new challenge. Every driver comes back more determined, myself included.”
In the past, Norris has repeatedly been accused of a lack of mental strength. The McLaren driver was often overly critical of himself and his mistakes and did not seem to have the nerves in the duel with Max Verstappen. However, he himself emphasizes that 2024 has been a good year for him in terms of mentality and approach.
“As you know, I was never someone who makes overly confident predictions. I’m more of a glass-half-empty, glass-half-full kind of guy,” he says. ‘I want to prove to myself that I can achieve my goals. Last year, I proved to myself that I can fight Max and win races.’
Abu Dhabi proved I can do it!
He points to the season finale in Abu Dhabi, when he was on pole, had a good start and won the race. “I proved to myself that I can do this,” he says. “That gives me confidence. I’m relaxed – but in a focused way. I have everything under control, I’m not overly nervous or too euphoric.”
He is satisfied with his performance last year, “but that doesn’t mean I’m resting on it,” said the McLaren driver. “I know we have more sponsors, partners and fans – all these things increase the pressure. But I’ve said it many times before: pressure and nervousness are not necessarily negative.”
“Some see it as a weakness, but for me it’s exactly these moments that drive me. I perform best in these situations,” he says. ‘Yes, sometimes you doubt whether you are making the right decision, but that’s what I love about this sport. The situations in which fractions of a second matter are what make me a better driver.’
McLaren doesn’t have to win the first race
“A lot of people see nervousness as a bad thing – I see it as fuel. And if I’m honest, I just hope I go out and make a profit for the people who bet on me!”
But for that to happen, McLaren would have to start better than in previous years, when the season opener was always a bit of a snooze. McLaren doesn’t necessarily have to win the first race, he says, because the team has proven that it can improve. “But I want us to start on the right foot,” says Norris. “That makes everything easier – including the title fight.”
“But I’ll stick to my mentality: one step at a time. The team feels the same way,” says the Briton. ‘We know we have big challenges ahead of us. It’s going to be a difficult year. But we’re in the right frame of mind.’