McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Lando Norris will challenge Max Verstappen for the 2025 Formula 1 title after learning from the 2024 season.
Norris was propelled into a title fight this year after McLaren’s Miami upgrade handed the Briton his maiden victory in the sport.
The 25-year-old would go on to take another three victories – two of them coming at the Singapore Grand Prix and Dutch Grand Prix, winning them in dominant fashion.
The fourth and final victory came in the 2024 Abu Dhabi finale, which helped clinch the Constructors’ title for McLaren – its first since 1998.
However, whilst his team came out on top, the Drivers’ Title was over after the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen claimed a fourth title in four successive years after taking seven victories in the opening 10 rounds.
This gave Norris an uphill task, which was hindered by missed opportunities in Canada, Imola, Spain and Austria – the latter due to retirement after coming off worse in a collision with his title rival Verstappen.
The missed opportunities continued and Norris never really brought the gap down to the Dutchman to challenge him for the title, with the final blow coming in Brazil.
Austria was a valuable experience for the McLaren driver and Brown feels his driver has taken the lessons from that encounter, and even demonstrated so in Mexico.
“Lando has learned a lot on how to race Max,” Brown told Speedcafe.
“Max is transparent on how he races; try and pass down the outside… he’s not letting you past around the outside.
“I think Lando put up a great fight in Mexico but also kept them out of an accident.”
Brown: Norris knows ‘where and how to race Max’
The pair also fought hard during the United States Grand Prix where the Red Bull driver’s divebomb defence allowed him to get to the apex first in Turn 12.
So when Norris overtook off the track, he was deemed to gain an advantage and a five-second time penalty for track limits was handed out to him.
Despite Norris coming off better in Mexico after similar incidents, Verstappen’s aggressiveness cost Norris the chance at victory as the four-time World Champion was once again willing to go the extra mile.
A common theme across the year but understandable considering Red Bull and Verstappen’s chances at winning the Constructors’ title were realistically low due to Sergio Perez’s form.
Whereas McLaren had two drivers fighting consistently at the front, giving itself a better chance at the title – and more for Norris to consider when battling his rival.
Brown referred to Lewis Hamilton in 2021 as an example of how Verstappen’s aggressiveness forced the Mercedes driver to consider taking a sensible approach.
He added: “I know Lewis [Hamilton] eventually went ‘right, this might end in tears for both of us’.”
But the American insisted that McLaren and Norris must learn from this and stand up to the reigning World Champion.
“We can’t afford that lesson… I think Lando has done the right thing,” he said.
“I think he knows where and how to race Max, and I think he’ll race him differently next year.”
READ MORE: Lando Norris reveals ‘turning point’ that showed Max Verstappen isn’t ‘perfect’
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