Lando Norris has outlined his confident mindset heading into the upcoming F1 season – a trait that is “rare” for him to be associated with.
Norris has been tipped as one of the favourites to contend for the title this year following McLaren’s strong campaign in 2024, which saw it clinch its first constructors’ championship in 26 years.
With the regulations remaining stable over the winter break, the pecking order is not expected to dramatically alter for the new season.
Norris pushed Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title last year when Red Bull lost its race-winning form in the mid-part of the campaign – however Verstappen’s early season success proved to be enough of a buffer for his fourth F1 title.
When asked by This Morning if he is feeling confident about contending for the drivers’ championship this season, Norris said: “I am. I think I proved [it] to myself last year.
“I never want to believe in the hype of things, I’m always a seeing-is-believing kind of guy, especially when it comes to things that I’m doing personally.
“Proving to myself last year that I can go and win races and I can dominate a weekend and I can fight against the best in the world, I needed to prove to myself that I was capable of doing that.
“I did it last year. I’m definitely not saying I did it perfectly, and I did make mistakes. I think I had my fair share of mistakes and errors.”
Norris in ‘best shape I’ve ever been’ ahead of 2025 F1 season
Norris has often been self-critical of himself in the past, particularly when he has come up short in qualifying or a race.
The 25-year-old has also spoken in length in the past about the doubts he had over his abilities to compete in F1 and once questioned if he belonged on the grid at all.
Having made a handful of mistakes last year while competing at the front, Norris is hopeful he has ironed out the faults ahead of the new season.
“I’m happy I did it [the mistakes] last year and I can come into this year confident,” Norris said.
“I would say I’m confident, which is a rare thing for me to be. I’m definitely not overconfident.
“I’m definitely not like ‘I’ve got this and I’m going to nail everything’.
“But I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been, both physically and mentally.
“I think we are as well as a team. The expectation is there, but the determination is also there. So I’m relaxed, I’m excited, but quietly confident.”
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