2024 brought four victories (Miami, Netherlands, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi), a second-place finish in the drivers’ championship, and a constructors’ title with Oscar Piastri for McLaren. However, last season, when it comes to Lando Norris, was mostly a learning experience, a life gym that produced the behavioral code to follow to (try to) beat Max Verstappen.
Yes, because the longest championship in history provided an undeniable truth: to have the upper hand over the Dutchman, you have to take off the white gloves and grab the carpenter’s hammer. Verstappen is tough, a driver who mentally nullifies his opponents before beating them on track, working on them from all angles, whether it’s a virtual race, a dinner with other drivers, or a press conference.
Lando Norris realized this in Austria, where he understood what it means to duel first on track and then in the media ring. On the asphalt, Max Verstappen, with an unorthodox but ultimately effective move, put his opponent out of the race, who didn’t handle the resulting psychological battle well. Lando first tried to be tough, then softened again, showing a character trait that perhaps doesn’t quite align with the fight at the top of Formula 1.
It is in this aspect that the Briton needs to improve, or rather, he needs to literally change his approach, and he probably understood this the hard way, not making the most of the MCL38, a car capable of winning a title but entrusted to a driver who perhaps wasn’t mentally ready to do so. Norris himself has spoken about this, admitting to his mistakes and expressing confidence that he has learned from them.
“I definitely have things to improve and correct. However, I think the thing I’ve learned and gained the most from this year is self-confidence. This year, yes, I made some mistakes and didn’t give Max enough of a challenge, but it was a good effort. The only thing I’ve learned is that I have what it takes.”
“I know I made my mistakes, I know what I’m capable of, and I know I can improve in these areas. It’s definitely possible, so I’m excited. As much as I want to take a holiday, I can’t wait for next year. Honestly, it’s probably the toughest moments where you learn the most,” explained Norris.
Lando Norris and the Need to Improve on Starts
One of the areas where the Briton lost valuable points was in the race starts. The pole positions he secured were too often wasted in the first few meters of the Grand Prix, and this is a key issue for future progress.
“I definitely made a good step forward at a good level this season. Obviously, I made some mistakes, and there were perhaps three starts this year that cost me one or two positions.”
The Difficulty of Competing with Verstappen
“Facing Max in any situation will always be complicated, and no one enjoys racing against him,” Norris admitted. “I think Mexico was a bit of a turning point when it was shown that not everything he does is perfect. I think if we all go back to Austin and go back to turn 12, most—if not everyone on the grid—would disagree with the penalty I received. Either neither of us should have received one, or we both should have.”
“I think there are small cases along the way, but from the pace perspective, I never doubted myself this year. I think I gave myself a lot more confidence. When I look at qualifying, I remember that 12 months ago, in Abu Dhabi, I made a mistake on my lap. I was pretty frustrated with myself after qualifying, and that’s all anyone talked about at the time. But that didn’t happen this year. I finished my qualifying laps well. I improved in all these areas. And it was more of a fight on tiptoe, with one of the best in the world. People on the outside have no idea what it takes and those moments when you accept losing a battle, and that’s the case.”
“And that’s because of where we were in the first six or seven races of the year. We lost too many points, and I found myself in a position where I couldn’t gain as much as I needed and wanted. But I’m not using any of these as excuses. I’m saying I didn’t have what it took this season to fight against Max. But it certainly gave me the feeling of saying ‘okay, if I improve a little here and there, I’m confident I can develop what’s needed,’” concluded the British driver.
In these words shared with the official Formula 1 website, Lando Norris never mentioned his teammate, with whom there were some moments of tension in the phase when the drivers’ championship seemed achievable. Clearly, the vice-champion knows he can beat Oscar Piastri once again, fully aware that the most threatening sporting adversary is Max Verstappen, who, despite having a car that was often not up to McLaren’s standards, still managed to win the world championship by a large margin of points.
2025 will serve as a year for Norris to win, first and foremost in the battle with Verstappen, and also with himself, to prove he truly has the mental strength and technical qualities that, last year, only flickered intermittently. Continuity and a rock-solid mental attitude are needed to face a bulldog like Max. In words, Lando seems to have found the magic formula. We’ll see if his intentions turn into concrete actions.
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