Lando Norris has vowed that McLaren will avoid a slow start to the upcoming Formula 1 campaign to ensure that the team is not on the back foot in the title race like in 2024.
Having contributed to McLaren’s success in the Constructors’ Championship last term, Norris heads into this season harbouring an ambition to secure his maiden Drivers’ title.
The Briton had an outside shot in 2024 as McLaren’s mid-season surge, coupled with Red Bull’s sudden demise, saw him emerge as a threat to Max Verstappen’s points lead.
However, Norris and McLaren were made to rue various mistakes that culminated in Verstappen, who endured a 10-race winless run, sealing the deal with two rounds to go.
But while he acknowledged that he wasn’t good enough to beat the Dutchman, Norris ended the season insisting that he has what it takes to go on and take the ultimate prize.
With the internal doubts about his belonging at the sharp end now eradicated, Norris has expressed that he is going into his seventh campaign in F1 in an improved headspace.
“My mindset at the minute is great,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week at McLaren’s shakedown event with the MCL39 at Silverstone.
“I definitely think it’s different to how it was last year. I feel like last year was a very good year for me, not just results-wise, but mentality-wise, [and] approach-wise.
“I feel like, as you guys know, I’ve never been one to be overconfident with any of my predictions, and how I’ve done. I’ve always been honest.
“I’m definitely always the glass half empty rather than half full kind of mentality. And I’ve always liked to prove to myself that I can do what I want to achieve.
“Last year I proved to myself that I can fight against Max, and I can win races, and I can do Abu Dhabi, and pole, and qualify well, and get off the line. I proved to myself.
“For me, a lot of my mentality is based off of that, which is maybe not always the best thing, but it’s how I work, it’s how I live. And last year I proved to myself that.
“So I feel like I’m very relaxed, but in a comfortable way, in a determined way, that I feel like I can keep things under control.
“I’m not getting too nervous or too ahead of myself, those kind of things.
“So I’m very excited. I feel good. I feel good about the team. But I think the main thing is I’m just calm with everything. I’m excited, but calm.”
Norris eager to see quick McLaren start to 2025
McLaren was adamant that the team’s sluggish beginning to last season was more responsible for Norris missing out to Verstappen than his own subsequent errors.
But with the Woking-based squad ending the campaign dominating in Abu Dhabi, Norris has contended that won’t be a problem that blights him on this occasion.
“I don’t want to set those expectations of ‘Guys, we have to win the first race, we have to do that’,” Norris underlined.
“We proved last year what we can come back from. I definitely don’t want us to start like that, and we will not start like that.
“We want to start off on the right foot. It’ll make things easier for all of us. That’ll obviously change the championship fight and things like that from the off.
“Things will change, but I’m still in the mentality of also taking things one step at a time. And I think the team are as well.
“We know we have a lot of challenges ahead, and it’s going to be a tough year. But the mentality is the correct one for everyone, which is that one was great, but we want another one.”
READ MORE – Lando Norris: McLaren must avoid Max Verstappen ‘sacrifice’ tactics in F1 2025
