Martin Brundle, Sky Sports F1 commentator, jokingly said that Lando Norris will need to equip himself with “razor blades” for his expected title fight against Max Verstappen in 2025.
On Thursday afternoon, McLaren unveiled its new 2025 car, the MCL39, with its drivers hitting the track at Silverstone. After last year’s strong finish, expectations are higher than ever for a competitive McLaren this season.
After 26 years, the papaya team returned to win the Constructors’ Championship, while Max Verstappen claimed his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship. Norris was unable to keep the Dutchman at bay due to a series of mistakes from both himself and the team.
With McLaren looking to continue its positive momentum in 2025, Lando Norris is convinced he is ready to win the title this year. The British team is targeting both championships.
Martin Brundle’s words
Martin Brundle assessed Lando Norris’s chances of defeating the four-time world champion ahead of the new season.
He stated: “I think he knows what he has to do. He has a lot of experience now. He has won races. Last year, he won two brilliantly, leading from the start and dominating. I think he has all the ingredients for success.”
“What I admire about Lando [Norris] is that when many drivers would have left McLaren, given the many tempting offers [he received], he trusted the team instead. I admire him because he believed in them, and they followed through,” he explained.
“They are the reigning champions. Hopefully, they will get the full reward.”
Wheel-to-wheel battles
One area Norris will need to improve on is wheel-to-wheel combat, particularly against Verstappen. They had numerous battles in 2024, and many did not end well for either driver. At the US Grand Prix, Max Verstappen showed Norris what he was capable of, while in Mexico, the Briton got his revenge, and the Red Bull champion received two 10-second penalties. In Austria, however, both paid the price for their contact.
Martin Brundle stated: “Lando now knows how to race from the front row. I think he probably believes he can win a world championship. He will have to stick out his elbows—and put some razor blades on them—in wheel-to-wheel fights with Max [Verstappen].”
“That’s clear. Everyone has to do it because that’s how Max races—he’s tough, and that’s why he has won the last four world championships,” he added. “I have no doubts, but this will be an incredibly tight year. I think it will be highly competitive.” – he pointed out.
“Also, because the regulations are very mature. There’s not much left to do with the cars. Everyone will tweak them here and there. With the massive change coming in 2026, very soon, teams will want to invest their budget, resources, staff, and workforce into the 2026 car,” he concluded.
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