Despite claiming several victories and the constructors title, Lando Norris and McLaren finished last year with a sour taste in their mouths.
Having enjoyed the fastest car for the majority of 2024, Norris still failed to secure the drivers’ title. In a season defined by key flashpoints in Austria, COTA and Mexico, the 25-year-old was unable to dethrone Max Verstappen.
As a new season approaches, the British driver is working to raise his level against the 4-time Champion.
Norris outlines necessary changes to fight Verstappen
To some extent, the dynamic of last year’s Championship battle were determined by the opening five rounds.
It was the beginning of the season, when it seemed like Red Bull would dominate once again, that Verstappen a healthy advantage in the standings.
This cushion, though not unassailable over a 24-race season, gave the Dutchman a key advantage.
With every passing round that Norris and McLaren failed to close the gap, the pressure would slowly increase.
This reached a tipping point in Brazil, where Norris missed a golden opportunity to close the gap – whilst Verstappen stormed from the back of the field to victory.
After failing to take the crown last season, the British driver told Sky Sports what needs to change in 2025:
“I need to get my elbows out, and I need to show him that I’m not going to willingly give him any positions – those kind of things.
“But I also have to be a smart driver. You have to be a smart driver to go up against Max – we saw it last year.
“I look forward to them. I like those moments when you have to make those quick decisions.”
McLaren’s aim? Create a bigger advantage
Last year taught McLaren team principal Andrea Stella one crucial lesson – unless you produce a dominant car, nothing is guaranteed.
Whilst the papaya squad produced the fastest car in 2024, there were three other teams capable of winning races.
Depending on the circuit, Ferrari and Mercedes often interfered with Norris and McLaren’s efforts to hunt down Verstappen.
Partly because of this, the British team’s philosophy for 2025 has been to make aggressive changes.
Confident in the baseline established last year, McLaren’s latest challenger – the MCL39 – is an extreme evolution of its predecessor.
Completing its first laps of 2025 earlier today in a filming day at Silverstone, the MCL39 featured visible changes to the sidepod, front suspension and halo.
The British team’s hopes for this season are to establish a big enough buffer that they avoid a messy scrap for the title.
With that said, it is unlikely McLaren will have everything their own way in 2025.
Unless all three of their rivals drop the ball over winter, they will have company when round one begins in Australia.
Aware of this reality, Lando Norris is ready to go head-to-head with Verstappen:
“It’s always a lot harder when you’re in the car than when you rewatch it after.
“Even when I see some things that I do, I’m like – what the hell have I done? What an idiot.
“But at the same time, I want to say that I don’t need to go out and just prove something to him.
“I don’t need to take any unnecessary risks, and don’t need to go down trying necessarily – I just keep focusing on myself.
“I don’t think you have to do anything special to try and beat Max.
“He’s quick, he’s aggressive, he’s one of the best ever… You’ve just got to be smart. That’s the answer to it all.
“You have to be smart and you have to position the car well, and also think of the long game sometimes.”
