Participating: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Andrea Stella 22.01.2025
the 25-year-old British driver, is excited and confident about the upcoming Formula 1 season. Reflecting on his growth as a driver, Norris mentioned:
“I’ve improved a lot, and I’m ready to bring the fight to everyone.”
After having a breakout year in 2024, including securing his first-ever victory at the Miami Grand Prix, Norris is eager to build on that success. He feels that both he and the McLaren team are in a strong position to challenge for the championship. Having finished the 2024 season with 374 points, Norris believes that with the right performance, he can push for even more.
When speaking about his own growth in confidence, Norris said:
“Confidence is something I’ve struggled with in the past, and probably I’ve only built it up throughout this season to say, ‘I’m confident that I’m a good enough driver to win a championship next year.’”
This statement highlights how important the mental aspect of racing has been for him. Over the years, Norris has become more self-assured, and his belief in his ability to succeed at the highest level has only grown stronger. His rise from a promising young talent to a consistent contender is evident, and he is eager to keep building on that momentum heading into 2025.
The Australian rookie sensation who impressed in his debut Formula 1 season in 2024, also shared his thoughts with BBC Sport. Despite being new to F1, Piastri was able to showcase his skill and determination, securing two race wins in his first season. Reflecting on his own progress, Piastri stated:
“I feel like I’ve definitely improved from my rookie season.”
This is a clear acknowledgment of the steep learning curve that comes with transitioning from junior formulas to Formula 1. He further elaborated on his growth:
“The positive in that has been that I’ve had the ability to come through in the races and make the ground back up.”
Piastri’s ability to recover during races and consistently fight for good results is something he values as part of his development. Looking ahead to 2025, he mentioned that his focus will be on addressing the small inaccuracies and fine-tuning his driving, which will make a difference in the highly competitive F1 environment. His goal is to raise the bar even higher and continue improving in order to help McLaren achieve more success in the coming season.
The team principal of McLaren, offered insights into the team’s preparations and mindset for the 2025 season. As the person responsible for guiding the team towards success, Stella emphasized the importance of maintaining a high level of performance despite the success they’ve already achieved. He noted:
“Over 666 points in a season, these margins simply mean that if you don’t do better next year, you have to be ready to face a loss. We don’t want to face a loss. We want to continue winning; therefore, we need to raise the bar for the future.”
This statement reveals the competitive spirit at McLaren, with Stella acknowledging that even with impressive points totals, there’s always room for improvement. The team's ambition is clear—they’re not resting on their laurels. Instead, they are fully committed to ensuring that their performance continues to rise, as they prepare to face even tougher competition in the 2025 season.
Stella also shared some of the team’s philosophy going into the next year:
“It would be incredibly naive to think that because we achieved the Constructors’ Championship, now we deserve it for the future.”
This is a humbling yet realistic reminder that success in Formula 1 is never guaranteed. McLaren knows that maintaining a championship-winning level of performance requires constant work and dedication. The focus for 2025 is on continued progress, ensuring that they do not become complacent but continue to push the boundaries of what they can achieve as a team.