McLaren driver Lando Norris believes it takes nothing “special” to to beat Max Verstappen ahead of a potential F1 2025 rematch.
Norris enjoyed the most successful season of his F1 career last year, collecting his maiden victory in Miami and adding three further wins in the Netherlands, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi.
The British driver’s fourth and final victory of the season helped secure McLaren’s first Constructors’ title since 1998.
However, despite having the quickest car for much of the season, Norris fell 63 points short of Verstappen, who overcame a 10-race winless run to claim a fourth consecutive Drivers’ crown.
Norris was criticised for a perceived weakness in a wheel-to-wheel battle with Verstappen, who was hit with two 10-second penalties for separate clashes with the McLaren man in Mexico.
McLaren became the first team to reveal their new car for the F1 2025 season on Thursday, with Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri behind the wheel for a shakedown test at Silverstone.
Speaking after the outing, Norris acknowledged the need to get his “elbow out” against Verstappen in F1 2025.
Yet he insisted that nothing “special” is required to best the Red Bull driver, stressing the need to be “smart” against his rival.
