Lando Norris and McLaren hungry for more F1 silverware in 2025

MELBOURNE – Lando Norris said his confidence is sky-high after McLaren’s first constructors’ title in 26 years last season, with the team hungrier than ever to add the drivers’ championship to their trophy cabinet.

The Briton came tantalisingly close to dethroning Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as world champion in 2024, and is widely expected to be battling at the front of the grid again this campaign.

“It’s motivated everyone even more from a team perspective,” he said of the constructors’ crown.

“The team got their first chance in 26 years to experience what it’s like to win a championship and I think it’s made them hungrier now that they know what it’s like.

“I think it’s good to acknowledge as a whole team that there will be more expectation now, more eyes, more pressure, more competitors trying to bring you down.”

McLaren were among the quickest at pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri looking to lay down a marker at the season-opening race in Melbourne this weekend.

The duo continued their momentum during the second free practice (FP2) on March 14, with the Australian ending the session in second place and Norris third.

Charles Leclerc left new Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton trailing in his wake as he topped the time sheets. The Monaco driver lapped the Albert Park circuit in 1min 16.439sec on soft tyres, 0.124sec better than Piastri.

Norris felt that there could still be improvements.

“It’s been a good start to the weekend. We’ve got a good baseline but certainly not happy, like not confident with the car in terms of finding the best balance and being consistent enough, especially on low fuel,” he said.

“High fuel, I felt good. Just low fuel was still similar to Bahrain, too many inconsistencies, too many problems, so a bit of a struggle.”

Nevertheless, he said he was excited by what lay ahead after showing in 2024 that he could thrive under the weight of expectation and in high-pressure situations.

“I’m excited about the season, but very calm,” he added.

“I feel relaxed. From a personal side, I don’t feel any more pressure. I’m always nervous and will always be, but that turns into excitement. One (thing I’ve learnt) is that I can do it, and I’ve got what it takes.”

McLaren started last season slowly before an upgrade at the sixth round in Miami radically improved their fortunes and allowed Norris to take his first win. But that still left him 53 points behind Dutchman Verstappen.

He attempted to claw back the deficit as Red Bull’s supremacy was eroded, but his title bid ran out of steam.

“This is the most confident I’ve been in the team and probably the most confident I have been in myself,” Norris added.

“It’s honestly not a big change, it’s quite small, but I feel more prepared and a more complete driver than I’ve ever been. Achieving what we did last year makes you believe you can do it again.

“That belief is what gives you the most confidence.”

While Leclerc was fastest in second practice, seven-time world champion Hamilton was fifth, an improvement on the Briton’s 12th ranking in the first session, but more than four-tenths of a second behind Leclerc.

Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, who missed out on a seat at Red Bull to New Zealander Liam Lawson, was fourth in FP2 while rookie teammate Isack Hadjar of France was sixth on an encouraging day for the rebadged Racing Bulls.

Defending champion Verstappen managed only the seventh fastest lap for Red Bull, while Briton George Russell, in the faster Mercedes, was 10th.

“Somehow the grip was not coming alive and just struggling on all four tyres, really, in Sector 1 and the last sector,” said Verstappen.

“That means of course that we are not really up there at the moment.” AFP, REUTERS