Lando Norris: “I’m ready To Go Against Max Verstappen”
Image: McLaren F1
McLaren Racing’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri recently sat down with Formula 1’s Lawrence Barretto to reflect on the 2024 season and discuss their expectations for 2025. Here’s a recap of the interview.
The conversation begins with Lando and Oscar sharing how they spent their well-deserved time off and how they’ve slowly started to miss racing. Lando spent his break skiing, while Oscar enjoyed the Australian summer.
As Norris calmly reflects on the 2024 season, he describes it as a year of growth and confidence-building. He acknowledges that 2025 will be highly competitive at the front but remains confident, stating: “I’m ready to go against Max Verstappen.”
Lawrence Barretto then asks Norris how it feels to start the 2025 season as the newly crowned Constructors’ Champions. Lando explains that the team’s goal is to remain competitive throughout the season, starting strong in Australia. In previous years, McLaren often had to play catch-up, but this time, expectations are different—many believe they will have the strongest car at the Australian Grand Prix.
Lando also talks about how his mindset has evolved during the off-season, shifting from an ambitious prospect to a genuine title contender. He has always aspired to race against the best, but now he fully believes he belongs at the top, having already proven he can compete with the likes of Max Verstappen. Last year’s experience has given him the confidence to fight for the Drivers’ Championship.
Oscar shares a similar mindset, emphasizing the importance of refining small details and minimizing mistakes. He reflects on the races where small errors made his life harder and acknowledges that taking a more calculated approach could have yielded better results. He highlights how, at the elite level, the tiniest margins can determine the difference between a win and a podium. “The tiny margins are just margins now,” he says.
Image: McLaren F1
Looking back at 2024, Lando notes that he learns best from experience, believing that losses teach more than wins. While it’s great to reflect on victories, he sees the setbacks of 2024 as the reason they are in a strong position now. Those tough moments have prepared them for an intensely competitive 2025 season.
Shifting the focus to the upcoming season, both drivers express excitement and confidence. They believe they have the fastest car on the grid and remain focused on proving it. As the saying goes, “talk is cheap,” so both are eager to demonstrate their pace on track. Piastri adds that the team is in a great place, with the experience of being champions and a strong, positive environment.
In summary, the interview highlights Lando and Oscar’s mindset, their reflections on 2024, and their confidence heading into 2025. Both see last season as a learning experience and are determined to convert that knowledge into victories. They appear calm yet eager, believing they will be strong contenders in Australia. It seems McLaren’s main challenger will still be Max Verstappen and Red Bull, and both drivers are confident they can finally end the Dutchman’s dominance.