Lando Norris says he needs the leadership of the F1 title over Max Verstappen to contain rival aggressive driving tactics | F1 news
Lando Norris says he needs to build the advantage of Formula One Championship over Max Verstappen to prevent his rival to “sacrifice” with an aggressive ride.
Norris helped McLaren in the crown of the first constructors since 1998, as he took away his first four victories in his career F1 career in 2024, but in the end he finished 63 points behind Verstappen Red Bull because the Dutchman asked for his Fourth consecutive driver title.
There were several points between the couple, while Norris tried to process a significant advantage that Verstappen was built in the early stages of the season, colliding in Austria, followed by controversial incidents on races in the United States and Mexico.
Speaking on Thursday after McLaren became the first team to start his car in 2025, Norris said, “I want to race against Max and enjoy those moments. Some things obviously didn’t end in the perfect way, in the perfect scenario.
“I think I had a point deficiency, even though most of the time we were faster, and I had a better car for many races, such things, which I can happily admit, there were some things I just didn’t do a good enough job.
“I wasn’t just at the level I needed to be a race against Max. But when we talk about it, we’re talking about probably going against one of the most difficult attackers who could ever go up against.
“As we have seen in Mexico and I do not want to go through all these things anymore, but as we have seen in Mexico, he sacrificed himself very willingly in favor of the whole outcome.
“And when it’s a driver’s mentality, whether Max or any driver, it’s very difficult to ever get on top when you have 50 or 40 points in the championship, because it will never be a win for us.
“So what’s the main thing will change this year? I just need more points from the beginning, and I hope it’s the other way around.
“Since you are in his position, you can always see as a vulnerable position, and I am a type of persecution and a guy trying to attack, can also be considered positive and negative.
“But with the way it drives and the risks it takes and the aggression it has, there was almost no way to go back from the lack I had, because there would be too many scenarios that replicated Mexico or a replicated red bull, such things where we are both were on the way.
‘I have to take out the elbow with Max’
Norris and Verstappen are currently the favorites competing for the 2025 driver’s title, and the 24 round season began in Australia from March 14 to March 16.
Asked if he should make a early statement to Verstappen, Norris accepted that he had to “pull the elbows”, but also said he had to be careful not to forget about the “long game”.
Brit said, “I have to take out the elbows and I have to show him that I will not willingly give him any position, such things. But I also have to be a smart driver. You have to be a smart driver who has passed against Max.
“I look forward to them. I like those moments when you have to make these quick decisions. It’s always a lot harder when you’re in the car than when you look at it again. Even when I see some things I do, I like,” What am I, hell . done?
“But at the same time, I want to say that I don’t need to go out and just prove something to him. I don’t have to take on unnecessary risks and I don’t have to try necessarily. Keep focusing on myself.
“I don’t think you have to do anything special to try to beat Max. She’s fast, he’s aggressive, he’s one of the best ever. It’s easy to go out and be a little faster than him and stay ahead. That’s. It’s an obvious plan.
“You have to be smart and the car you have to position well and sometimes think about a long game.”
Norris: MCL39 felt good in Silverstone
Earlier on Thursday, McLaren became the first F1 team to discover his car in 2025 ahead of the three consecutive days of the official preseason testing starting in Bahrein on February 26.
McLaren led the MCL39 in Shacedown in Silverstone, and Norris and the Oscar Piastra teammate shared 200 KM of the allowed time.
With all 10 sports teams, they are obliged to discover their 2025 years at the F1 Special event in launching the 75th anniversary at the O2 Arena in London, next Tuesday, McLaren led a car with an alternative ‘geometric cambe design’ in the shades of Papaya and Black.
After the MCL39 ride on Thursday morning, Norris said Sky Sports News: “They have changed more than you might think when you look at the car, what is a cool thing. I mean, you try and improve in every area, right?
“You try to make it easier, stronger, faster, more powerful, whatever it is. I think every single piece on the car worked and improved.
“Sometimes everything is summed up with small things, but sometimes you talk about little margins at the same time. It felt good. I mean, it’s nice to get back in the car.
“It’s exciting. The first year for all of us as a team we come to as champions is some goals on our backs. It feels good, but the guys are doing an incredible job. So yes, good to come back.”
Check out all 24 race weekends from the Formula 1 2025 Live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP from March 14 to March 16. Stream Sky Sports with now – No Treaty, cancel anytime
