Lando Norris questioned the “mentality” of the rival George Russell in the midst of their constant discussion of McLaren’s advantage over the rest of the Formula One field.
McLaren had the fastest car comfortably because Norris won the Grand Prix of Australia on Sunday, which opened the season, and only the break of multiple safety car and showers provided the ruling World Champion Max Verstappen a chance to abolish the victory with a late charge.
Russell, who finished third in Melbourne for Mercedes, said Norris led one of the Oscar -winning teammates in qualifying that McLaren were so faster than their rivals so they could already transfer their car for next season when new regulations are coming.
He sat together with Russell in a press conference after the first three race, Norris asked if his strong appearance at the Albert Park made him a clear favorite for the World Cup.
He said, “Let’s see. Max was three-tenths yesterday. Last year we were a lot further and we ended up with the best car until the end of the season. We were over half a second early last year behind the Red Bull and finished with the fastest car.
“I know George made comments earlier this weekend that we can only turn into 2026. If it is their mentality, wonderful, but it’s not a mentality. Sorry, my friend.
“We know we still have a lot of work to do on this year’s car. If you relax in this position, you don’t succeed. In Formula 1, if you start thinking that things are good and groovy, then they catch you.
“I think we are a favorite because the team did an incredible job and the car flies. But we will have the races we fight in.
“If we had started the season in Bahrein, I don’t think we would win, and you wouldn’t ask me this question. Let’s allow a few more races before you make any obvious statements.”
Norris points out the difference for Red Bull and Mercedes
Norris fell in an attempt to persecute Verstappen in last year’s battle for the driver’s title, but McLaren saw Ferrari to ask for a constructor championship since 1998.
The key factor of their triumph was the consistency with which Norris and Piastra scored points, which the 25-year-old Brit pointed out as the main advantage that McLaren had over the rival, who joined them on the Sunday Podtoen.
Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate is Liam Lawson, who competed in just 11 Grands Prix before the Sunday race, while Russell drove with the Italian teenager Andre Kimi Antonelli, who made her debut in Melbourne.
Norris said, “We are a team that will win, mostly because we have two drivers up as they push each other. It helps.
“I think I and Oscar pushing each other in the qualifications that allowed us yesterday to get one and a half, one ten more than two drivers, because their teammates are not so equipped or experienced? Yes, so add that to the equation.
“It’s not just a car. The team did an incredible job and thank them for everything they do. But we know we can do it better and that’s our goal.”
Russell was driving a very solid race to secure the podium, but ultimately he would not be in the first three if it wasn’t that the piastra was spinning in the rain.
Asked if McLaren could be caught, Russell decided to repeat the words Norris used a few moments earlier, saying: “Currently they look pretty good and groovy. Well, we’ll see.”
Sky Sports F1, Live Chinese GP schedule
Thursday 20th March
- 5:00: A driver’s press conference
Friday 21st March
- 1:00: F1 Academic Practice
- 3:00: Chinese Practice GP -One (session starts at 3.30am)*
- 5.30 pm: A press conference of the Director of the Tim Director
- 6:00: F1 Academy of Qualifications*
- 6.45pm: Chinese GP Sprint qualifying (session starts at 7.30)*
Saturday 22. March
- 2.25 hours: Sprint of Chinese GP Sprint
- 3:00: Chinese GP Sprint*
- 5.45pm: F1 Academy of Race 1*
- 6.35: 00: Chinese GP qualifying buildup*
- 7:00: Chinese qualifying general practice*
- 9:00: TED -O’s qualifying notebook*
Sunday March 23
- 2.40 hours: F1 Academy of Race 2
- 5.30am: Chinese GP Building-up: Grand Prix Saturday*
- 7:00: Grand Prix Chinese*
- 9:00: Chinese GP reaction: Plated flag*
- 10:00: Ted’s notebook*
*Also at the main event Sky Sports
The F1 Circus is moving straight to Shanghai this week for the first sprint weekend of the season at the Chinese GP, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – No Treaty, cancel anytime
