Lando Norris has fired a warning shot at Max Verstappen by asserting the 2025 Formula 1 world championship will be his year, Afrosport reports.
The McLaren driver missed out on the 2024 title to Verstappen, however his fourth victory of the season at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix helped McLaren clinch their first constructors’ championship since 1998.
Norris now feels confident he has what it takes to edge Verstappen when next year’s championship commences in March.
“Next year’s going to my year, too. This [2025 title] is my goal. This is our goal as a team. We want to win the constructors’. We want to win the drivers’ next year, he said.
“I made my mistakes this year, but I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve learned a lot from Max and my competitors around me.
“As much as I’m happy now, I’m excited to get next year going.”
He added: “One thing I’ve learned this year is probably to believe in myself a bit more.
“I’ve certainly not come out on top as often as I would have liked in certain moments as a driver, you know, especially in my fights against Max.
“As much as it hurts sometimes, I’m probably happy about it now that I’m going to go into next season knowing that I can fight. And I know myself, and I know more and better than anyone what I need to improve on, where I’m not strong enough, where I’m strong enough…”
Iconic. #ThisTeam pic.twitter.com/ywHABqPOSv
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) December 9, 2024
Norris finished 63 points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ championship while McLaren edged Ferrari by 13 points in the constructors’ championship.
