McLaren have been warned that they must establish Lando Norris as their number one driver from the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season if they are serious about challenging for the championship.
The team had a competitive car in 2024, but Max Verstappen ultimately secured his fourth consecutive title, with Norris struggling at race starts and Oscar Piastri taking valuable points away from him.
However, former F1 driver Marc Surer believes Norris has addressed his previous weaknesses and stands a strong chance of winning the 2025 Drivers’ Championship, provided McLaren deliver a capable car.
“I think Lando Norris is ready to win the championship this year if the car is good enough,” Surer told MyBettingEdge.
“He had some weaknesses last year, like his poor starts – even when on pole position he had a poor start.
“And also on the first lap, he lost many places on the first lap. But he solved these problems; by the end of the year, he was able to hold position at the start, so I think he fixed these weaknesses.”
Norris demonstrated significant progress throughout the 2024 season, emerging as one of Verstappen’s strongest challengers. He secured multiple podium finishes and even claimed his first Grand Prix victory, proving that he has what it takes to win at the highest level.
His racecraft improved considerably, with better starts and fewer mistakes in wheel-to-wheel battles. McLaren also made strides in car development, frequently competing at the front alongside Red Bull and Ferrari.
However, inconsistencies and strategic missteps meant Norris fell short of a title challenge.
McLaren’s continued upward trajectory gives hope for 2025, and Surer believes that prioritizing Norris within the team is crucial to their success.
Surer also emphasized the challenge posed by Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, who has shown impressive racecraft and opportunistic driving.
While Piastri may not have matched Norris’ outright speed, his ability to capitalize on opportunities could create issues for McLaren if they fail to manage their driver dynamics effectively.
“His biggest problem is now his team-mate. He (Piastri) is a lucky driver. He is maybe not as fast as Lando Norris, but Piastri is a lucky driver – he sometimes has chances and he is able to take advantage of these chances when they come up,” Surer added.
“So if McLaren want to win the championship, they have to put Lando Norris as their number one driver. Otherwise, Piastri will take points away from him.
“But I’m not worried about Lando. He is ready, he corrected his mistakes from last year. He is able to win the championship (in 2025.)”