The pre-race feelings
Everything is ready for the highly anticipated Australian Grand Prix, which will return to open a Formula 1 season for the first time since 2019. The starting grid will once again feature Max Verstappen as the reigning world champion, with the Dutchman motivated to secure his fifth consecutive world title. On the other hand, McLaren arrives as the reigning Constructors’ World Champion, but with indications pointing to them as a team to beat for the Melbourne weekend, especially after the pre-season tests in Bahrain.
No superiority
However, vice-world champion Lando Norris emphasized that the upcoming weekend will not be easy for McLaren, believing that the Woking team should not be considered the favorite for the season opener despite the good work done in testing: “I’m happy, I can’t wait to get started,” he said during the pre-GP press conference. “I’m relaxed, which is probably the best thing. I feel calm, I feel ready to go. Many people would take that as a sign of confidence. I think we have a good car, a good car to start the season, but I don’t think we’re superior to any of our main competitors. Obviously, there has been a lot of talk, and many things have been said over the last two weeks, but I don’t think we are ahead of our competitors compared to last season or that people think we are. I still think it will be a tough weekend for us and that we’ll have to fight with everyone, but I believe we’re in a good position to start strong and confident. That’s how we want to be, and that’s how we want to start the season.” – he pointed out.
Ongoing comments
On several occasions, McLaren’s competitors have considered the Woking team to be the strongest. Serious comments or psychological games? To this question from journalists, Lando Norris responded: “I don’t know, I don’t know what they’re doing! They like to talk, that’s for sure, but who cares! It doesn’t matter,” he reiterated. “We’ll see tomorrow and in the coming days. I think we’re in a good position, that’s clear, it’s obvious. We had a good test in Bahrain, but I don’t think we’re faster than the others, especially on low-fuel laps. I know that’s where you can hide the most, but I’ve also heard a lot about how the others have been hiding and not showing their true pace. I think you’ll be surprised because it seems like the comments are all going in one direction right now, and it’s nice to hear so many people talking about us. But I believe that from our perspective, and from a personal point of view, nothing has changed. We don’t think we’re superior to any of the other teams. I think we’re in a very similar situation to the other three main competitors, and we have to work hard to make sure we’re ahead of them this weekend.” – the British driver concluded on Thursday ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
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