Lando Norris believes McLaren are now the favorites for the 2025 Formula One world championship after a dominant victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Following a dramatic race in mixed wet and dry conditions, Norris secured his first win in Melbourne, marking a strong start to his title aspirations.
Norris crossed the finish line just under a second ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, though his car displayed a notable pace advantage over the competition. A safety car period allowed Verstappen to close the gap, but Norris acknowledged after the race that McLaren had established itself as the team to beat.
“I do think we are the favorites,” Norris said. “We are the team to beat. The car is flying. There will be tracks where we are even better.”
Mercedes driver George Russell, who finished third, remarked earlier in the weekend that McLaren’s speed made it nearly untouchable. He suggested that rival teams might already shift their focus toward the 2026 season, when significant regulation changes will take effect. Norris welcomed the suggestion, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus and continuing development.
“If that is their mentality, then wonderful, because that is not the mentality to have,” he said. “We know we have a lot of work to do in this car and if you do relax, you have failed. In Formula One, if you start to think everything is good and groovy, that is when you get caught.”
The British driver credited his team for making the right strategic calls, particularly in the crucial moments when rain suddenly hit in the latter stages of the race. As he wrestled with his car in the slippery conditions, a perfectly timed pit stop decision secured his victory.
“The team calling me to box half a second before I needed to box, even though I was still trying to save the car and making sure I didn’t shunt, was the right call. It was a call that won me the race,” he said.
While McLaren celebrated their success, Ferrari acknowledged areas that needed improvement. Lewis Hamilton finished tenth, struggling to adapt to his new car and team dynamics. Throughout the race, there were moments of tense communication between Hamilton and his race engineer, highlighting a need for better coordination.
Ferrari’s team principal admitted that improvements were necessary. “We learned a lot from this weekend because we made mistakes,” he said. “We need to improve communication, understand what Lewis needs from the team. It was the first race, the first time we had to communicate between the pit wall and the car. We can do a better job and know each other more. For sure, it was not a clean race. The strategy was difficult, and we need to find a better way to communicate.”
The opening race of the season has already set the stage for an intense championship battle, with McLaren emerging as a formidable contender. However, as the season progresses, other teams will be working hard to close the gap, ensuring that the fight for the title remains highly competitive.
