Lando Norris has openly admitted that his McLaren Formula One team still has "quite a bit" of work to do to enhance their car's performance ahead of the upcoming season. This candid assessment comes as the 26-year-old British driver prepares to defend the drivers' world championship title he clinched for the first time in 2025.
Norris Reflects on Championship Win and Current Challenges
Speaking from Bahrain during pre-season testing, Norris expressed a blend of confidence and realism about the task ahead. He acknowledged that McLaren is currently "a little bit off" the pace compared to their main rivals, including Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. To match the race performance of these competitors, Norris noted that the team must push harder, which unfortunately leads to increased tyre degradation issues.
Personal Growth and Team Responsibility
Despite the technical hurdles, Norris emphasised his personal development and heightened self-assurance following his championship victory. He stated, "I feel better than I've ever done. Certainly after last year in winning the championship, that's given me the confidence, so it's reassuring to know that I've done it once and therefore I believe I can do it again."
However, he downplayed any notion of overwhelming responsibility, adding, "I would love to win, but I don't think there's like a responsibility. Always in life I'll do my best to defend it and continue it, but it's a new season with loads of new challenges."
The Road to Melbourne and Beyond
With the season opener in Melbourne just a month away, Norris highlighted that simply continuing from last year's success is not an option. He stressed, "It's not as simple as just continuing from last year and saying it's the same thing again. You know at the minute we have to improve the car quite a bit if we want to compete a bit more to be confident for the first race."
Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about his own capabilities and the team's potential, concluding, "That's a good thing, but it's a long season and I'll make sure I do my part. Together as a team we'll make sure we give ourselves the best opportunity to do it again."
Norris's championship win in 2025 was a significant achievement, dethroning Max Verstappen after a season filled with personal doubts and immense pressure. Now, with that milestone behind him, he faces the dual challenge of maintaining his peak performance while supporting McLaren's efforts to upgrade their car to competitive standards.
