McLaren appears poised to launch a formidable challenge for the Formula One championship in the upcoming season, buoyed by their impressive performance against Red Bull in 2024, according to Lando Norris.
The team celebrated Norris‘s maiden grand Prix triumph in Miami last Sunday, marking McLaren’s first victory since Daniel Ricciardo led Norris to a one-two finish at Monza in 2021.
Despite being the second most successful team in Formula One history in terms of race wins, McLaren has not clinched a championship since Lewis Hamilton secured his inaugural title in 2008.
When asked whether McLaren could contend for the championship in the coming year, Norris expressed unwavering confidence during an interview with Sky Sports television, stating, “100%. And I’m saying that still with my feet on the ground.
“As much as I said at the beginning of this year we can win races, I want to believe and I should have the confidence to say next year we can go for more, we can go for the next step.”
In the recent Miami race, Norris triumphed over Red Bull’s triple world champion, Max Verstappen, with a commanding lead of 7.6 seconds, capitalizing on a safety car period that played to his advantage.
Verstappen, who had secured victories in four of the previous five rounds of the season, encountered difficulties after damaging the floor of his car when he collided with a bollard, as revealed by Red Bull post-race.
“I’m sure something’s changed, there’s something inside that’s changed because I’m a race winner now, but at the same time it doesn’t change how I approach things. I’m still the same guy, I still want to win more,” Norris stated.
He further mentioned that McLaren, presently occupying the third spot in the championship standings with Ferrari in second place, holds the potential to secure additional victories throughout the remainder of the year.
“I think we’re looking at an exciting season between us, Red Bull, Ferrari. We still have work to do, we’re not at the level that they are just yet,” he remarked.
Norris also anticipated a shift in dynamics with Verstappen, noting their friendship might undergo changes in the competitive landscape of Formula One.
“I’m sure it will… we have respect for one another, we get along. We’re not best friends, we don’t text each other every day, but we just have a lot of respect,” he remarked.
“I want to challenge him, I want to race against him, I want to battle because I think he’s one of the best drivers ever in Formula One. So if I can prove myself against him I’m proving myself against one of the best.”
