Lando Norris has insisted he wouldn’t have won the 2024 Formula 1 title even with a “perfect season” as Red Bull was never as uncompetitive as McLaren at the start.
McLaren’s miraculous mid-season turnaround last term saw it end the campaign as the closest contender to Red Bull, but Ferrari assumed the mantle as 2024 began.
However, McLaren’s upgrades at the Miami Grand Prix helped Norris to his maiden win and elevated the team’s MCL38 into a consistent challenger to Red Bull’s RB20.
But while the Woking-based squad has since ascended to the lead of the Constructors’ Championship, Max Verstappen sealed the Drivers’ title with two rounds to go.
Norris has been made to rue several mistakes as he was unable to take the battle down to the wire, with Verstappen adamant he would’ve prevailed with the McLaren.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen certain he would’ve won 2024 F1 title earlier with McLaren car
But the Briton, who has disagreed with his rival’s assessment, has stated that Red Bull’s margin to the quickest team was never as big as McLaren’s in the initial races.
“I’m very proud of the whole team for putting up the fight for so long, for starting to catch up and catching up as much as we did,” Norris told media including Motorsport Week.
“We were the fourth-best team at the beginning of the year. Red Bull have never been the fourth-best team, or worst let’s say, ever.
“We had just too big of a [points] deficit to catch up from the beginning of the season and we could not because they’ve been too strong still.”
Norris relishing 2025 title chance
Norris admitted he was relishing going into 2025 with the acknowledgement that McLaren should be competitive as soon as the season begins with the scores reset.
“Next year we’ll go into the season with a car we think we can win a championship with from round one and we’ve not been able to do that for the last six years,” he said.
“I’m excited for that but I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. My first win in Formula 1, my first three.
“No one else is there fighting him. It’s been me and it’s been McLaren so I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.
“Could we have done some things better? Absolutely. Do I think we could have won the championship even with a perfect season? I don’t. I’m happy to finish second still.”
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