Lando Norris challenged McLaren—and Formula 1's heavyweights—in a frank, no-holds-barred discussion about the team's relentless drive to stay at the top following their hard-fought victory in the constructors' championship in 2024. Speaking with a rare blend of optimism and brutality, Norris painted a picture of a McLaren who refuses to rest on his laurels and who is laser-focused not just on survival, but on thriving in the unforgiving world of Formula 1.
“Last year wasn’t good enough. »
Although they won the championship, McLaren knows they didn't make it easy for themselves. Norris did not mince his words, admitting that the team created unnecessary obstacles. “We have complicated life sometimes,” he said in a revealing interview during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The message was clear: McLaren's achievements in 2024 are already history. Their mission? Building a future where winning is not only possible—it’s inevitable.
“One thing we realized as a team is that now we are there; we want to make it easier for ourselves. We want to continue so that we can win these races easily, and not make them as difficult as they were last year,” said Norris, leaving no doubt about McLaren's thirst for a smoother path to victory. victory.
A fight for dominance in the tightest F1 season yet
The upcoming season isn't just a battle—it's an all-out war. McLaren faces intense competition from Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes, all of whom are aggressively refining their designs to get ahead of their rivals. Ferrari is taking risks with its 2025 car, Red Bull finished last season with momentum on their side, and Mercedes is determined to bounce back from its setbacks.
Team boss Andrea Stella has no illusions about the challenge that awaits her. He highlighted the razor-thin margins McLaren operated within last year, warning that the slightest mistake could prove catastrophic. “We won the 2024 constructors' championship, but the performance advantage we had was 0.04% on average, and the points margin was 2%,” Stella said.
“Over 666 points in a season, those margins just mean that if you don't do better next year, then you have to be prepared to deal with a loss. We don't want to face defeat. We want to continue to win. Therefore, we must raise the bar.”
Strategic errors that almost cost McLaren glory
McLaren's victories last season came with a dose of drama. Strategic errors—like questionable tire choices at Silverstone and Monza—left them vulnerable at critical moments. At Monza, leaving the door open for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to execute a one-stop strategy was painful, costing the team a victory it could have seized.
-Even more striking was the unclear communication around team orders between Norris and his rising teammate, Oscar Piastri. McLaren's indecision allowed tensions to escalate, notably at Monza, where Norris and Piastri collided at the second chicane, giving their rivals the advantage.
“Doing the right thing” has become a balancing act. Although prioritizing Norris could have boosted their chances of winning the drivers' title, McLaren was reluctant to harm Piastri, aware of the long-term damage it could cause to team morale.
Norris' moment of truth
Norris also holds himself accountable. The 24-year-old phenom acknowledges that his 2024 campaign was not without its flaws. Poor starts in Spain and Hungary, critical errors in Belgium, and missed opportunities in direct duels against Max Verstappen revealed flaws in his game.
“I was pretty close last year,” Norris admitted. “But I could feel it. I had this feeling of, 'OK, that's kind of what it is.' It was within reach. This year I need to fix a few things, work on some skills, and come back stronger.”
Norris' determination to elevate his performance is palpable. His words at Davos carried the weight of a pilot who knows greatness is within his reach—but only if he can rise to the occasion.
Can McLaren turn ambition into dominance?
McLaren's goal of “winning easily” may seem audacious in a field as competitive as modern Formula 1, but aiming too high might be their best strategy in a sport where aiming too low guarantees failure. While total dominance may remain elusive, Norris and McLaren's relentless pursuit of perfection positions them as a force to be reckoned with.
As the 2025 season approaches, the stakes have never been higher. F1 teams have learned that once you reach the top, the only way to stay there is to fight like you've never won before. For McLaren, the battle isn't just about maintaining their crown—it's about proving they deserve it.
