Lando Norris has taken a jab at Red Bull Racing, responding to their recent attempts to uncover what they believe is the “secret weapon” behind McLaren’s remarkable surge in performance. In the past few months, the McLaren Formula 1 team has emerged as a dominant force on the grid, and their superiority is becoming increasingly difficult for rivals—especially Red Bull—to accept.
McLaren closing in on both championships
On Red Bull’s home turf in Austria, the McLaren Formula 1 team delivered a commanding performance, securing an impressive one-two finish. Meanwhile, the Red Bull Racing team left the Red Bull Ring without scoring a single point. While the Constructors’ Championship had already slipped from Red Bull’s grasp some time ago, the Austrian Grand Prix also marked a significant shift in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, extended their leads over reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, with the Australian driver now ahead by 61 points and Norris by 46.
The Woking-based team’s rise to the top of the 2025 Formula 1 championship standings has clearly rattled the Red Bull camp. Since the second half of the 2024 season, McLaren has consistently outpaced Red Bull, leading to speculation and theories about how the British team managed such a rapid transformation. Among the more outlandish ideas floated in the paddock was the suggestion that McLaren might be using water inside their tyres to lower the temperature—an absurd claim that even McLaren CEO Zak Brown mocked earlier this season during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
Lando Norris weighs in with sarcasm
Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Lando Norris addressed the rumors with his trademark sense of humor. “They come up with all sorts of nonsense. When you’re dominating, it’s only natural that others start to get suspicious about how you’re doing it,” Norris said. “These are the kinds of things you learn not to say back in kindergarten. It’s honestly very amusing to see what people are willing to make up, completely without logic or evidence.”
The British driver went on to add that McLaren has come under increased scrutiny as their dominance has grown. “We’re under more control than ever. There are more regulations, more technical checks, and more effort being made to try and slow us down,” he continued. “But that’s part of what it means to be at the top. When you’re leading the way, more people try to bring you down. Especially in a sport like Formula 1, where it’s often one team versus another. That kind of rivalry naturally leads to attempts to undermine success.”
Norris also commented on the motives behind Red Bull’s behavior. “In a way, when a team is trying to fight its way back to the top, it will use whatever means it can. Sometimes that includes individuals spreading bizarre theories—whether it’s about water in the tyres or in the brake ducts. If people are saying that kind of nonsense, it means you’re clearly doing a good job.”
The remarks from Lando Norris not only reflect McLaren’s confidence in their current form but also reinforce the team’s growing strength and unity as they push toward what could be a historic season in both championships.
Leave a Reply